Network resource management system utilizing physical network identification for bridging operations

ABSTRACT

The disclosed network resource management system employs a hardware configuration management (HCM) information handling system (IHS) that may couple to a single administered IHS or to multiple administered IHSs via an administrative network. An HCM tool in the HCM IHS may generate, modify and store hardware configuration information, including physical network identifications (PNet IDs), in an HCM database and share the HCM database with the administered IHSs. The administered IHS may be a bridging IHS. A bridging tool may extract hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, from the HCM database. The bridging tool may utilize the hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, to enable the bridging IHS to bridge networks internal to the bridging IHS with networks external to the bridging IHS.

BACKGROUND

The disclosures herein relate generally to information handling systems(IHSs), and more specifically, to IHSs that communicate with otherparticular IHSs. Multiple IHSs may be connected together via acommunication network. Multiple IHSs may also be connected together viamultiple communication networks. A hardware configuration managementsystem on a first IHS may share information about the hardwareconfiguration of a second IHS via a communication network.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method for bridging operations in an informationhandling system (IHS) is provided. The method includes receiving, by ahypervisor of a first IHS, an HCM database that includes configurationinformation including physical network identifier (PNet ID) entries andrespective associated physical adapter type entries and respectiveassociated logical partition (LPAR) access information entries. Themethod also includes transmitting, by the hypervisor of the first IHS,the HCM database to a bridging tool. The method further includesextracting, by the bridging tool, configuration information from the HCMdatabase, the configuration information including PNet ID entries andrespective associated physical adapter ID entries and respectiveassociated logical partition (LPAR) access information entries, thusproviding extracted physical bridging configuration information. Themethod still further includes extracting, by the bridging tool,configuration information from the HCM database, the configurationinformation including PNet ID entries and respective associated virtualadapter ID entries and respective associated logical partition (LPAR)access information entries, thus providing extracted virtual bridgingconfiguration information. The method also includes bridging via avirtual switch, by the bridging tool, a physical adapter in the firstIHS and a virtual adapter in the first IHS that exhibit a same PNet ID.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of theinvention and therefore do not limit its scope because the inventiveconcepts lend themselves to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosedhardware configuration management (HCM) system utilizing physicalnetwork identifiers (PNet IDs).

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of an HCM database that may be used in thedisclosed HCM system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the disclosedHCM system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of the HCM database that may be used inthe disclosed HCM system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an HCM information handling system (IHS)that may be used in the disclosed HCM system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of an HCMtool that may be used in the disclosed HCM system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosed remotedirect memory access (RDMA) enabled network adapter controller (RNIC)converging system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of an HCM database that may be used in thedisclosed RNIC converging system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the disclosedRNIC converging system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 10 depicts one embodiment of the HCM database that may be used inthe disclosed RNIC converging system.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an RNIC converging IHS that may be used inthe disclosed RNIC converging system.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of anRNIC converging tool that may be used in the disclosed RNIC convergingsystem.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosedbridging system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 14 depicts one embodiment of a HCM database that may be used in thedisclosed bridging system.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the disclosedbridging system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 16 depicts one embodiment of the HCM database that may be used inthe disclosed bridging system.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a bridging IHS that may be used in thedisclosed bridging system.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of abridging tool that may be used in the disclosed bridging system.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosed loadbalancing system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 20 depicts one embodiment of a HCM database that may be used in thedisclosed load balancing system.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the disclosedload balancing system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 22 depicts one embodiment of the HCM database that may be used inthe disclosed load balancing system.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a load balancing IHS that may be used inthe disclosed load balancing system.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of aload balancing tool that may be used in the disclosed load balancingsystem.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are block diagrams showing one embodiment of thedisclosed privileged network access (PNA) system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 26 depicts one embodiment of a HCM database that may be used in thedisclosed privileged network access (PNA) system.

FIG. 27 depicts one embodiment of a privileged network access management(PNAM) database that may be used in the disclosed privileged networkaccess system.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are block diagrams showing another embodiment of thedisclosed privileged network access (PNA) system utilizing PNet IDs.

FIG. 29 depicts one embodiment of the HCM database that may be used inthe disclosed privileged network access (PNA) system.

FIG. 30 depicts one embodiment of the PNAM database that may be used inthe disclosed privileged network access (PNA) system.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a privileged network access IHS that maybe used in the disclosed privileged network access (PNA) system.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of a privileged network access management(PNAM) IHS that may be used in the disclosed privileged network accesssystem.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of aprivileged network access tool (PNA) that may be used in the disclosedprivileged network access system.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of aprivileged network access management (PNAM) tool that may be used in thedisclosed privileged network access system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed network resource management system employs a hardwareconfiguration management (HCM) information handling system (IHS) thatmay couple to a single administered IHS or to multiple administered IHSsvia an administrative network. An HCM tool in the HCM IHS may generate,modify and store hardware configuration management information in an HCMdatabase in the HCM IHS. The HCM database stores hardware configurationinformation that may include, but is not limited to, machine serialnumbers (MSNs), physical identifications (PIDs), logical identifications(LIDs), types, logical partition (LPAR) access lists and physicalnetwork identifications (PNet IDs). A PNet ID is an identifier thatinforms an IHS with respect to a particular network to which an adapterof the IHS connects, as explained in more detail below.

In one embodiment, the HCM tool may transmit the HCM database to ahypervisor agent of an administered IHS via the administrative network.In another embodiment, the HCM tool may transmit the HCM database to ahypervisor agent of an administered IHS via a serial connection. Thehypervisor agent of the administered IHS may receive the HCM databaseand allow the hypervisor of the administered IHS to access the HCMdatabase.

In one embodiment, the administered IHS may be a remote direct memoryaccess (RDMA) enabled network interface controller (RNIC) convergingIHS. RDMA is remote direct memory access, a technology that enables anIHS to exchange information with another IHS without involving theprocessor, cache or operating system. The hypervisor of the RNICconverging IHS may transmit the HCM database to an RNIC converging toolin the RNIC converging IHS. The RNIC converging tool may extracthardware configuration information from the HCM database. The RNICconverging tool may utilize the hardware configuration information toenable the RNIC converging IHS to communicate over a network with RDMAprotocols, as discussed in more detail below.

In another embodiment, the administered IHS may be a bridging IHS. Thehypervisor of the bridging IHS may transmit the HCM database to abridging tool in the bridging IHS. The bridging tool may extracthardware configuration information from the HCM database. The bridgingtool may utilize the hardware configuration information to enable thebridging IHS to bridge networks internal to the bridging IHS withnetworks external to the bridging IHS, as discussed in more detailbelow.

In another embodiment, the administered IHS may be a load balancing IHS.The hypervisor of the load balancing IHS may transmit the HCM databaseto a load balancing tool in the load balancing IHS. The load balancingtool may extract hardware configuration information from the HCMdatabase. The load balancing tool may utilize the hardware configurationinformation to enable the load balancing IHS to balance adapter loads inthe load balancing IHS. The load balancing tool may also utilize thehardware configuration information to enable the load balancing IHS tofailover from a failing adapter to other adapters in the load balancingIHS, as discussed in more detail below.

In another embodiment, the administered IHS may be a privileged networkaccess (PNA) IHS. The hypervisor agent of the PNA IHS may receive aprivileged network access management (PNAM) database from a PNAM tool ina PNAM IHS via the administrative network. The hypervisor agent of thePNA IHS may allow the hypervisor of the PNA IHS to access the PNAMdatabase. The hypervisor of the PNA IHS may transmit the HCM databaseand the PNAM database to a PNA tool in the PNA IHS. The PNA tool mayextract hardware configuration information from the HCM database andprivileged network access information from the PNAM database. The PNAtool may utilize the hardware configuration information and privilegednetwork access information to enable the PNA IHS to limit access toprivileged networks, as discussed in more detail below.

I. HCM System

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosedhardware configuration management (HCM) system 100 utilizing physicalnetwork identifiers (PNet IDs). HCM system 100 may utilize networkadapter 101, administrative network 102 and network adapter 103 tocouple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 104. HCM system 100 may utilizenetwork adapter 101, administrative network 102 and network adapter 105to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 106. HCM system 100 mayutilize network adapter 101, administrative network 102 and networkadapter 107 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 108. HCM system100 may utilize network adapter 101, administrative network 102 andnetwork adapter 109 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 110.Administered IHSs 104, 106, 108 and 110 couple via administrativenetwork 102 to HCM IHS 500 to enable HCM IHS 500 to administer HCMdatabase 200 with HCM tool 600 to the administered IHSs.

HCM system 100 may utilize network adapter 111 and/or network adapter112 via NETWORK A 113 via network adapter 114 and/or network adapter 115to couple administered IHS 104 to administered IHS 106. HCM system 100may utilize network adapter 116 and/or network adapter 117 via NETWORK B118 via network adapter 119 and/or network adapter 120 to coupleadministered IHS 104 to administered IHS 108. HCM system 100 may utilizenetwork adapter 121 and/or network adapter 122 via NETWORK C 123 vianetwork adapter 124 and/or network adapter 125 to couple administeredIHS 104 to administered IHS 108. HCM system 100 may utilize networkadapter 121 and/or network adapter 122 via NETWORK C 123 via networkadapter 126 and/or network adapter 127 to couple administered IHS 104 toadministered IHS 110.

In one embodiment, network adapter 101, 103, 105, 107 and 109 may beEthernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 111, 114, 116, 119, 121, 124and 126 may be open system adapters (OSAs). Network adapters 112, 115,117, 120, 122, 125 and network adapter 127 may be remote direct memoryaccess (RDMA) enabled network adapter controllers (RNICs). In oneembodiment, administrative network 102, NETWORK A 113, NETWORK B 118 andNETWORK C 123 may provide local area network (LAN) communications and/orwide area network (WAN) communications and/or virtual LAN communicationsand/or intranet communications and/or Internet communications tostructures that couple thereto.

Administered IHS 104 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate logical partition (LPAR) 128-1, LPAR 128-2, LPAR 128-3, LPAR128-4, LPAR 128-5, LPAR 128-6 and LPAR 128-7 in administered IHS 104.LPAR 128-1, LPAR 128-2, LPAR 128-3, LPAR 128-4, LPAR 128-5, LPAR 128-6and LPAR 128-7 may respectively include virtual internal network adapter129-1, virtual internal network adapter 129-2, virtual internal networkadapter 129-3, virtual internal network adapter 129-4, virtual internalnetwork adapter 129-5, virtual internal network adapter 129-6 andvirtual internal network adapter 129-7. Virtual internal network adapter129-1, 129-2, 129-3, 129-4, 129-5, 129-6 and 129-7 may be internalqueued direct (IQD) communication adapters and couple to one another viaadministered IHS 104 IQD network 130. Administered IHS 104 IQD network130 may be a channel, i.e., a bus.

LPAR 128-1, LPAR 128-2 and LPAR 128-3 may include virtual networkadapter 131-1, virtual network adapter 131-2 and virtual network adapter131-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 131-1, virtual networkadapter 131-2 and virtual network adapter 131-3 may couple to networkadapter 111 via a channel. LPAR 128-4 and LPAR 128-5 may include virtualnetwork adapter 131-4 and virtual network adapter 131-5, respectively.Virtual network adapter 131-4 and virtual network adapter 131-5 maycouple to network adapter 116 via a channel. LPAR 128-6 and LPAR 128-7may include virtual network adapter 131-6 and virtual network adapter131-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 131-6 and virtual networkadapter 131-7 may couple to network adapter 121 via a channel.

LPAR 128-1, LPAR 128-2 and LPAR 128-3 may include virtual networkadapter 132-1, virtual network adapter 132-2 and virtual network adapter132-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 132-1, virtual networkadapter 132-2 and virtual network adapter 132-3 may couple to networkadapter 112 via a channel. LPAR 128-4 and LPAR 128-5 may include virtualnetwork adapter 132-4 and virtual network adapter 132-5, respectively.Virtual network adapter 132-4 and virtual network adapter 132-5 maycouple to network adapter 117 via a channel. LPAR 128-6 and LPAR 128-7may include virtual network adapter 132-6 and virtual network adapter132-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 132-6 and virtual networkadapter 132-7 may couple to network adapter 122 via a channel.

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 200 in the disclosed HCMsystem 100. HCM tool 600 may store the hardware configurationinformation in HCM database 200 on a per adapter basis. In oneembodiment, for each network adapter in HCM system 100, HCM tool 600 maystore, from the leftmost column to the rightmost column, the machineserial number (MSN), physical identification (PID), logicalidentification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, physical network identification (PNet ID) for a first port of thenetwork adapter, and the PNet ID for the second port of the networkadapter.

In one embodiment, the machine serial number (MSN) may be a four bytehex value that identifies the IHS of the adapter. In one embodiment, thephysical identification (PID) may be a physical channel ID (PCHID),i.e., the physical card slot in an I/O drawer of an IHS. In anotherembodiment, the PID may be a virtual channel identification (VCHID), avirtual ID given because internal adapters do not have a physical cardslot in an IHS. In one embodiment, the logical identification (LID) maybe a logical channel identification (CHPID). In another embodiment, theLID may be a function identification (FID), i.e. logical identification.

In one embodiment, the adapter type may be a two byte hex value thatidentifies the type of adapter. For example, OSA, RNIC and IQD adaptersmay be 0087, 0008, and 008D, respectively. In one embodiment, thelogical partition (LPAR) access list may include eight one byte hexvalues that represent which LPARs in the IHS may access the particularadapter. In one embodiment, PNet ID 1 may include a four-characterstring identifying the physical network coupled to the first port of theadapter. PNet ID 2 may include a four-character string identifying thephysical network coupled to the second port of the adapter.

As shown in HCM database 200, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 111 includes MSN of 0000880B, PID of 0008, LID of 00F0, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 111 is located in physical channel 0008 inadministered IHS 104 and may be identified logically by administered IHS104 as 00F0. Adapter 111 is a physical OSA network adapter and couplesto NETWORK A 113 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 128-1, 128-2 and 128-3 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 111 to communicate via NETWORK A113.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 112 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0020, LID of 0200, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 112 is located in physical channel 0020 in administered IHS 104and may be identified logically by administered IHS 104 as 0200. Adapter112 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 113 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 128-1, 128-2 and 128-3 of administered IHS 104may access adapter 112 to communicate via NETWORK A 113.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 116 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0009, LID of 00F4, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 116is located in physical channel 0009 in administered IHS 104 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 104 as 00F4. Adapter 116 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 118 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 128-4 and 128-5 of administered IHS 104 may access adapter116 to communicate via NETWORK B 118.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 117 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0021, LID of 0204, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 117is located in physical channel 0021 in administered IHS 104 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 104 as 0204. Adapter 117 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 118 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 128-4 and 128-5 of administered IHS 104 may access adapter117 to communicate via NETWORK B 118.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 121 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 020A, LID of 00F7, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 121is located in physical channel 020A in administered IHS 104 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 104 as 00F7. Adapter 121 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 123 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 128-6 and 128-7 of administered IHS 104 may access adapter121 to communicate via NETWORK C 123.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 122 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0222, LID of 0207, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 122is located in physical channel 0222 in administered IHS 104 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 104 as 0207. Adapter 122 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 123 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 128-6 and 128-7 of administered IHS 104 may access adapter121 to communicate via NETWORK C 123.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-1 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C0, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-1 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C0. Adapter 129-1 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-1 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-2 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C1, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-2 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C1. Adapter 129-2 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-2 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-3 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C2, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-3 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C2. Adapter 129-3 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-3 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-4 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C3, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-4 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C3. Adapter 129-4 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-4 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-5 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C4, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-5 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C4. Adapter 129-5 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-5 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-6 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C5, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-6 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C5. Adapter 129-6 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-6 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 129-7 includes MSN of0000880B, PID of 0111, LID of 04C6, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 129-7 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0111 in administered IHS 104 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 104 as 04C6. Adapter 129-7 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 130 on virtualchannel 0111. LPAR 128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 and 128-7 ofadministered IHS 104 may access adapter 129-7 to communicate via IQDnetwork 130.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 114 includes MSN of8A0024FC, PID of 0007, LID of 0061, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter114 is located in physical channel 0007 in administered IHS 106 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 106 as 00B1. Adapter 114 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 113 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 106 may access adapter 114 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 113.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 115 includes MSN of8A0024FC, PID of 0012, LID of 0006, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter115 is located in physical channel 0012 in administered IHS 106 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 106 as 0006. Adapter 115 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 113 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 106 may access adapter 115 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 113.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 119 includes MSN of578A7CE6, PID of 005A, LID of 0200, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter119 is located in physical channel 005A in administered IHS 108 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 108 as 0200. Adapter 119 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 118 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 108 may access adapter 119 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 118.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 120 includes MSN of578A7CE6, PID of 0402, LID of 001C, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter120 is located in physical channel 0402 in administered IHS 108 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 108 as 001C. Adapter 120 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 118 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 108 may access adapter 115 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 118.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 124 includes MSN of578A7CE6, PID of 005B, LID of 0201, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter124 is located in physical channel 005B in administered IHS 108 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 108 as 0201. Adapter 124 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 123 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 108 may access adapter 124 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 123.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 125 includes MSN of578A7CE6, PID of 0444, LID of 001 D, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter125 is located in physical channel 0444 in administered IHS 108 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 108 as 001D. Adapter 125 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 123 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 108 may access adapter 125 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 123.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 126 includes MSN ofA453E85C, PID of 0002, LID of 0105, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter126 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 110 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 110 as 0105. Adapter 126 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 123 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 110 may access adapter 126 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 123.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 127 includes MSN ofA453E85C, PID of 0005, LID of 00A2, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter127 is located in physical channel 0005 in administered IHS 110 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 110 as 00A2. Adapter 127 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 123 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 110 may access adapter 127 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 123.

In one embodiment, HCM tool 600 in HCM IHS 500 may transmit the HCMdatabase to a hypervisor agent of administered IHS 104, 106, 108 and/or110 via administrative network 102. For example, the hypervisor agent ofadministered IHS 104 may receive HCM database 200 and allow thehypervisor of administered IHS 104 to extract hardware configurationinformation from HCM database 200. The hypervisor of administered IHS104 may configure administered IHS 104 as shown in HCM database 200.

In one embodiment, a user may assign PNet ID, “NETA” to NETWORK A 113,“NETB” to NETWORK B 118, and “NETC” to NETWORK C 123, with HCM tool 600.A user may use HCM tool 600 to provision adapters 111, 112 for network Aby assigning a PNet ID of “NETA” therewith. If more adapters arerequired due to bandwidth limitations between administered IHS 104 andNETWORK A 113, additional adapters may easily be provisioned byassigning a PNet ID of “NETA” to the adapter, with HCM tool 600.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosedhardware configuration management (HCM) system 300 utilizing physicalnetwork identifiers (PNet IDs). HCM system 300 may utilize networkadapter 301, administrative network 302 and network adapter 303 tocouple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 304. HCM system 300 may utilizenetwork adapter 301, administrative network 302 and network adapter 305to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 306. HCM system 300 mayutilize network adapter 301, administrative network 302 and networkadapter 307 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 308. HCM system300 may utilize network adapter 301, administrative network 302 andnetwork adapter 309 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 310.Administered IHSs 304, 306, 308 and 310 couple via administrativenetwork 302 to HCM IHS 500 to enable HCM IHS 500 to administer HCMdatabase 400 with HCM tool 600 to the administered IHSs.

HCM system 300 may utilize network adapter 311 and/or network adapter312 and/or network adapter 313 and/or network adapter 314 via NETWORK A315 via network adapter 316 and/or network adapter 317 to coupleadministered IHS 304 to administered IHS 306. HCM system 300 may utilizenetwork adapter 318 and/or network adapter 319 and/or network adapter320 and/or network adapter 321 via NETWORK B 322 via network adapter 323and/or network adapter 324 to couple administered IHS 304 toadministered IHS 306. HCM system 300 may utilize network adapter 318and/or network adapter 319 and/or network adapter 320 and/or networkadapter 321 via NETWORK B 322 via network adapter 325 and/or networkadapter 326 to couple administered IHS 304 to administered IHS 308. HCMsystem 300 may utilize network adapter 327 and/or network adapter 328and/or network adapter 329 and/or network adapter 330 via NETWORK C 331via network adapter 332 and/or network adapter 333 to coupleadministered IHS 304 to administered IHS 308. HCM system 300 may utilizenetwork adapter 327 and/or network adapter 328 and/or network adapter329 and/or network adapter 330 via NETWORK C 331 via network adapter 334and/or network adapter 335 and/or network adapter 336 and/or networkadapter 337 to couple administered IHS 304 to administered IHS 310.

In one embodiment, network adapter 301, 303, 305, 307 and 309 may beEthernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 311, 312, 316, 318, 319, 323,325, 327, 328, 334 and 336 may be open system adapters (OSAs). Networkadapters 313, 314, 317, 320, 321, 326, 329, 330, 333, 335 and 337 may beremote direct memory access (RDMA) enabled network adapter controllers(RNICs). In one embodiment, administrative network 302, NETWORK A 315,NETWORK B 322 and NETWORK C 331 may provide local area network (LAN)communications and/or wide area network (WAN) communications and/orvirtual LAN communications and/or intranet communications and/orInternet communications to structures that couple thereto.

Administered IHS 304 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate logical partition (LPAR) 338-1, LPAR 338-2, LPAR 338-3, LPAR338-4, LPAR 338-5, LPAR 338-6 and LPAR 338-7 in administered IHS 304.LPAR 338-1, LPAR 338-2, LPAR 338-3, LPAR 338-4, LPAR 338-5, LPAR 338-6and LPAR 338-7 may respectively include virtual internal network adapter339-1, virtual internal network adapter 339-2, virtual internal networkadapter 339-3, virtual internal network adapter 339-4, virtual internalnetwork adapter 339-5, virtual internal network adapter 339-6 andvirtual internal network adapter 339-7. Virtual internal network adapter339-1, 339-2, 339-3, 339-4, 339-5, 339-6 and 339-7 may be internalqueued direct (IQD) communication adapters and couple to one another viaadministered IHS 304 IQD network 340. Administered IHS 304 IQD network340 may be a channel, i.e., a bus.

LPAR 338-1, LPAR 338-2 and LPAR 338-3 may include virtual networkadapter 341-1, virtual network adapter 341-2 and virtual network adapter341-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 341-1, virtual networkadapter 341-2 and virtual network adapter 341-3 may couple to networkadapter 311 and network adapter 312 via a channel. LPAR 338-4 and LPAR338-5 may include virtual network adapter 341-4 and virtual networkadapter 341-5, respectively. Virtual network adapter 341-4 and virtualnetwork adapter 341-5 may couple to network adapter 318 and networkadapter 319 via a channel. LPAR 338-6 and LPAR 338-7 may include virtualnetwork adapter 341-6 and virtual network adapter 341-7, respectively.Virtual network adapter 341-6 and virtual network adapter 341-7 maycouple to network adapter 327 and network adapter 328 via a channel.

LPAR 338-1, LPAR 338-2 and LPAR 338-3 may include virtual networkadapter 342-1, virtual network adapter 342-2 and virtual network adapter342-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 342-1, virtual networkadapter 342-2 and virtual network adapter 342-3 may couple to networkadapter 313 and network adapter 314 via a channel. LPAR 338-4 and LPAR338-5 may include virtual network adapter 342-4 and virtual networkadapter 342-5, respectively. Virtual network adapter 342-4 and virtualnetwork adapter 342-5 may couple to network adapter 320 and networkadapter 321 via a channel. LPAR 338-6 and LPAR 338-7 may include virtualnetwork adapter 342-6 and virtual network adapter 342-7, respectively.Virtual network adapter 342-6 and virtual network adapter 342-7 maycouple to network adapter 329 and network adapter 330 via a channel.

FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 400 in the disclosed HCMsystem 300. HCM tool 600 may store the hardware configurationinformation in HCM database 400 on a per adapter basis. In oneembodiment, for each network adapter in HCM system 300, HCM tool 600 maystore, from the leftmost column to the rightmost column, the machineserial number (MSN), physical identification (PID), logicalidentification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, physical network identification (PNet ID) for a first port of thenetwork adapter, and the PNet ID for the second port of the networkadapter.

As shown in HCM database 400, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 311 includes MSN of 000F880A, PID of 0008, LID of 00F0, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 311 is located in physical channel 0008 inadministered IHS 304 and may be identified logically by administered IHS304 as 00F0. Adapter 311 is a physical OSA network adapter and couplesto NETWORK A 315 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 338-1, 338-2 and 338-3 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 311 to communicate via NETWORK A315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 312 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0009, LID of 00F1, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 312 is located in physical channel 0009 in administered IHS 304and may be identified logically by administered IHS 304 as 00F1. Adapter312 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 315 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 338-1, 338-2 and 338-3 of administered IHS 304may access adapter 312 to communicate via NETWORK A 315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 313 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 020A, LID of 0010, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 313 is located in physical channel 020A in administered IHS 304and may be identified logically by administered IHS 304 as 0010. Adapter313 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 315 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 338-1, 338-2 and 338-3 of administered IHS 304may access adapter 313 to communicate via NETWORK A 315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 314 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 020B, LID of 0011, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 314 is located in physical channel 020B in administered IHS 304and may be identified logically by administered IHS 304 as 0011. Adapter314 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 315 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 338-1, 338-2 and 338-3 of administered IHS 304may access adapter 314 to communicate via NETWORK A 315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 318 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0330, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 318is located in physical channel 0330 in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 00F5. Adapter 318 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-4 and 338-5 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter318 to communicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 319 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0331, LID of 00F6, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 319is located in physical channel 0331 in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 00F6. Adapter 319 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-4 and 338-5 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter319 to communicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 320 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 020C, LID of 0015, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 320is located in physical channel 020C in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 0015. Adapter 320 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-4 and 338-5 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter320 to communicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 321 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 020D, LID of 0016, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 321is located in physical channel 020D in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 0016. Adapter 321 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-4 and 338-5 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter321 to communicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 327 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0111, LID of 00F9, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 327is located in physical channel 0111 in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 00F9. Adapter 327 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-6 and 338-7 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter327 to communicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 328 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0112, LID of 00FA, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 328is located in physical channel 0112 in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 00FA. Adapter 328 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-6 and 338-7 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter328 to communicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 329 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 020E, LID of 0019, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 329is located in physical channel 020E in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 0019. Adapter 329 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-6 and 338-7 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter329 to communicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 330 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 020F, LID of 0020, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 330is located in physical channel 020F in administered IHS 304 and may beidentified logically by administered IHS 304 as 0020. Adapter 330 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 338-6 and 338-7 of administered IHS 304 may access adapter330 to communicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-1 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D0, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-1 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D0. Adapter 339-1 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-1 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-2 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D1, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-2 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D1. Adapter 339-2 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-2 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-3 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D2, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-3 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D2. Adapter 339-3 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-3 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-4 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D3, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-4 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D3. Adapter 339-4 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-4 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-5 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D4, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-5 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D4. Adapter 339-5 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-5 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-6 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D5, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-6 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D5. Adapter 339-6 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-6 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 339-7 includes MSN of000F880A, PID of 0222, LID of 06D6, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 with noentries. In other words, adapter 339-7 is a virtual adapter with avirtual channel 0222 in administered IHS 304 and may be identifiedlogically by administered IHS 304 as 06D6. Adapter 339-7 is an IQDvirtual network adapter and couples to IQD network 340 on virtualchannel 0222. LPAR 338-1, 338-2, 338-3, 338-4, 338-5, 338-6 and 338-7 ofadministered IHS 304 may access adapter 339-7 to communicate via IQDnetwork 340.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 316 includes MSN ofA467E85D, PID of 0005, LID of 00D1, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter316 is located in physical channel 0005 in administered IHS 306 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 306 as 00D1. Adapter 316 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 315 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 306 may access adapter 316 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 317 includes MSN ofA467E85D, PID of 0016, LID of 0CB1, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter317 is located in physical channel 0016 in administered IHS 306 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 306 as 0CB1. Adapter 317 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 315 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 306 may access adapter 317 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 323 includes MSN ofA467E85D, PID of 0006, LID of 00D2, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter323 is located in physical channel 0006 in administered IHS 306 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 306 as 00D2. Adapter 323 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 306 may access adapter 323 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 324 includes MSN ofA467E85D, PID of 0017, LID of 0CB2, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter324 is located in physical channel 0017 in administered IHS 306 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 306 as 0CB2. Adapter 324 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 306 may access adapter 324 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 325 includes MSN of007A0052, PID of 00A1, LID of 00F0, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter325 is located in physical channel 00A1 in administered IHS 308 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 308 as 00F0. Adapter 325 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 308 may access adapter 325 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 326 includes MSN of007A0052, PID of 00D1, LID of 00F1, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter326 is located in physical channel 00D1 in administered IHS 308 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 308 as 00F1. Adapter 326 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 322 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 308 may access adapter 326 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 322.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 332 includes MSN of007A0052, PID of 00A2, LID of 00F2, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter332 is located in physical channel 00A2 in administered IHS 308 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 308 as 00F2. Adapter 332 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 308 may access adapter 332 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 333 includes MSN of007A0052, PID of 00D2, LID of 00F3, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter333 is located in physical channel 00D2 in administered IHS 308 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 308 as 00F3. Adapter 333 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 308 may access adapter 333 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 334 includes MSN ofC6200070, PID of 0016, LID of 00CA, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter334 is located in physical channel 0016 in administered IHS 310 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 310 as 00CA. Adapter 334 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 310 may access adapter 334 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 335 includes MSN ofC6200070, PID of 0032, LID of 00CB, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter335 is located in physical channel 0032 in administered IHS 310 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 310 as 00CB. Adapter 335 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 310 may access adapter 335 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 336 includes MSN ofC6200070, PID of 0022, LID of 00CC, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter336 is located in physical channel 0022 in administered IHS 310 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 310 as 00CC. Adapter 336 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 310 may access adapter 336 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 331.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 337 includes MSN ofC6200070, PID of 000A, LID of 00CD, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter337 is located in physical channel 000A in administered IHS 310 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 310 as 00CD. Adapter 337 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 331 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 310 may access adapter 337 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 331.

In one embodiment, HCM tool 600 in HCM IHS 500 may transmit the HCMdatabase to a hypervisor agent of administered IHS 104, 106, 108 and/or110 via administrative network 102. For example, the hypervisor agent ofadministered IHS 104 may receive HCM database 200 and allow thehypervisor of administered IHS 104 to extract hardware configurationinformation from HCM database 400. The hypervisor of administered IHS104 may configure administered IHS 104 as shown in HCM database 400.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an HCM information handling system (IHS)500 that may be used in the disclosed HCM system. HCM IHS 500 includes aprocessor 505 that may include multiple cores. HCM IHS 500 processes,transfers, communicates, modifies, stores or otherwise handlesinformation in digital form, analog form or other form. HCM IHS 500includes a bus 510 that couples processor 505 to memory 515 via a memorycontroller 520 and memory bus 525. System memory 515 may also bereferred to as main memory. System memory 515 may be a static randomaccess memory (SRAM) array or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)array. Processor 505 may also include local memory such as L1, L2 and L3caches. A video graphics controller 530 couples display 535 to bus 510.Nonvolatile storage 540, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive(SSD), CD drive, DVD drive, or other nonvolatile storage couples to bus510 to provide HCM IHS 500 with permanent storage of information. Systemmemory 515 and nonvolatile storage 540 are both forms of memory stores.Nonvolatile storage 540 stores an operating system 545 (OPERATING SYS)that governs operation of HCM IHS 500. I/O devices 550, such asspeakers, a keyboard and a pointing device, couple to bus 510 via I/Ocontroller 555 and I/O bus 560.

One or more expansion busses 565, such as USB, IEEE 1394 bus, ATA, SATA,PCI, PCIE, DVI, HDMI and other busses, couple to bus 510 to facilitatethe connection of peripherals and devices to HCM IHS 500. A networkinterface controller (NIC) 570 couples to bus 510 to enable HCM IHS 500to connect by wire or wirelessly to a network and other informationhandling systems. NIC 570 may also be called a network communicationadapter, network interface adapter, network adapter, network interfaceor an adapter. NIC 570 may take many forms. For example, NIC 570 maytake the form of an Ethernet (ETH) adapter, open systems adapter (OSA),RDMA enabled network interface controller (RN IC) or other networkcommunication adapter.

While FIG. 5 shows one IHS that employs processor 505, the IHS may takemany forms. For example, HCM IHS 500 may take the form of a desktop,portable, laptop, notebook, tablet or other form factor computer or dataprocessing system. HCM IHS 500 may take other form factors such as agaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable telephonedevice, a communication device or other devices that include a processorand memory.

HCM IHS 500 includes a hardware configuration management (HCM) toolcomputer program product 600 on digital media 575 such as a CD, DVD orother media. For simplicity, the term HCM tool will be used below. HCMIHS 500 may store HCM tool 600 in nonvolatile storage 540 as HCM tool600′. HCM IHS 500 may also store operating system 545 (OPERATING SYS)and HCM database 580 in nonvolatile storage 540. When HCM IHS 500initializes, the IHS loads operating system 545 into system memory 515for execution as operating system 545′. HCM IHS 500 also loads HCMdatabase 580 and HCM tool 600′ into system memory 515 for execution asHCM database 580′ and HCM tool 600″, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of an HCMtool 600 that may be used in the disclosed HCM system. Process flowcommences when HCM tool 600 in HCM IHS 500 initializes, as per block605. The HCM tool 600 may determine if HCM database 580 exists in HCMIHS 500, as per block 610. If HCM database 580 exists in HCM IHS 500,HCM tool 600 opens HCM database 580 for modification, as per block 615.However, if HCM database 580 does not exist in HCM IHS 500, HCM tool 600generates a blank HCM database 580 in HCM IHS 500 and opens the HCMdatabase 580 for modification, as per block 620.

HCM database 580 may store entries on a per adapter basis, i.e., eachrow in HCM database 580 may contain information that pertains to aspecific network adapter. Process flow continues as HCM tool 600 checksthe entries in HCM database 580 and determines if rows in HCM database580 are assigned physical network identifications (PNet IDs), as perblock 625. If HCM tool 600 determines that rows of HCM database 580 havenot been assigned PNet IDs, HCM tool 600 may generate a PNet ID andassign the particular PNet ID to a particular physical network and storethe generated PNet IDs in HCM database 580, as per block 630. Forexample, HCM tool 600 may generate a PNet ID of “NETA” for NETWORK A113, “NETB” for NETWORK B 118, and/or “NETC” for NETWORK C 123. In oneembodiment, a user may input PNet IDs to the HCM tool 600 and the usermay assign particular PNet IDs to particular physical networks with HCMtool 600.

HCM tool 600 may provision the network adapters of each administered IHSin the HCM system. HCM tool 600 may modify rows of HCM database 580 toinclude logical partition (LPAR) designations of LPARs in the particularadministered IHS that may access each particular network adapter, as perblock 635. For example, HCM tool 600 may provision LPARs 01, 02, and 03of administered IHS 104 to utilize network adapter 111, as shown in thefirst row of HCM database 200 in FIG. 2, i.e., the hardwareconfiguration information related to network adapter 111. In oneembodiment, a user may utilize the HCM tool 600 to provision the networkadapters of each administered IHS in the HCM system. The user may inputLPAR designations of LPARs in the particular administered IHS that mayaccess each particular network adapter, to the HCM tool 600. The HCMtool 600 may modify the rows of HCM database 580 to include the LPARdesignations of LPARs in the particular administered IHS that may accesseach particular network adapter.

HCM tool 600 may then assign PNet IDs to the network adapters of eachadministered IHS in the HCM system. HCM tool 600 may modify rows of HCMdatabase 580 to include PNet IDs of the physical networks to which theparticular network adapters connect, as per block 640. For example, asshown in FIG. 1, since both ports of network adapter 111 physicallyconnect to NETWORK A 113, HCM tool 600 may assign PNet ID “NETA” to bothports of network adapter 111, by storing, “NETA” in the first row, “PNETID1” column of HCM database 200 and by storing, “NETA” in the first row,“PNET ID2” column of HCM database 200. In one embodiment, a user mayutilize the HCM tool 600 to assign PNet IDs to network adapters of eachadministered IHS in the HCM system. The user may input and/or selectPNet IDs with HCM tool 600 and assign the PNet IDs to particular networkadapters with HCM tool 600. The HCM tool 600 may then modify the rows ofHCM database 580 to include the assigned PNet IDs with the particularnetwork adapter.

If HCM tool 600 determines that rows of HCM database 580 have beenassigned PNet IDs, as per block 625, process flow continues at block645. HCM tool 600 inspects the configuration of the HCM system that mayinclude the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID),logical identification (LID), type, LPAR access list, PNet ID1 and PNetID2 on a per adapter basis, as per block 645. HCM tool 600 may alsoinspect the hardware configuration information of each network adapterin HCM database 580.

If HCM tool 600 determines that the HCM system configuration does notmatch HCM database 580, as per block 650, HCM tool 600 updates theinformation stored in HCM database 580 with the inspected configurationof the HCM system, as per block 655. In one embodiment, a user may viewHCM database 580 with HCM tool 600 and determine if HCM database 580matches the HCM system configuration. If HCM database 580 does not matchthe HCM system configuration, the user may input the HCM systemconfiguration to the HCM tool 600. HCM tool 600 may then store the HCMsystem configuration input by the user to HCM database 580.

If HCM tool 600 determines that the HCM system configuration does matchHCM database 580, as per block 650, process flow continues at block 660.If HCM tool 600 determines that HCM database 580 has been modifiedand/or generated, as per block 660, HCM tool 600 may transmit HCMdatabase 580 to any or all administered IHSs, as per block 665. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, HCM tool 600 may transmit HCM database 200to administered IHS 104, 106, 108 and/or 110 via administrative network102. In one embodiment, a user may input or select a transmit command inHCM tool 600, causing HCM tool 600 to transmit HCM database 580 to anyor all administered IHSs. In another embodiment HCM tool 600 maytransmit HCM database 580 to any or all administered IHSs at a userspecified time interval. If HCM tool 600 determines that the HCMdatabase 580 has not been modified and/or generated, as per block 660,process flow continues at block 670. Process flow terminates at endblock 670. Alternatively, process flow may continue at start block 605.

II. RNIC Converging System

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosed remotedirect memory access (RDMA) enabled network adapter controller (RNIC)converging system 700 utilizing PNet IDs. RNIC converging system 700 mayutilize network adapter 701, administrative network 702 and networkadapter 703 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 704. AdministeredIHS 704 may also be referred to as RNIC converging IHS 704. RNICconverging system 700 may utilize network adapter 701, administrativenetwork 702 and network adapter 705 to couple HCM IHS 500 toadministered IHS 706. RNIC converging system 700 may utilize networkadapter 701, administrative network 702 and network adapter 707 tocouple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 708. RNIC converging system 700may utilize network adapter 701, administrative network 702 and networkadapter 709 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 710. AdministeredIHSs 704, 706, 708 and 710 couple via administrative network 702 to HCMIHS 500 to enable HCM IHS 500 to administer HCM database 800 with HCMtool 600 to the administered IHSs.

RNIC converging system 700 may utilize network adapter 711 and/ornetwork adapter 712 via NETWORK A 713 via network adapter 714 and/ornetwork adapter 715 to couple RNIC converging IHS 704 to administeredIHS 706. RNIC converging system 700 may utilize network adapter 716and/or network adapter 717 via NETWORK B 718 via network adapter 719and/or network adapter 720 to couple RNIC converging IHS 704 toadministered IHS 708. RNIC converging system 700 may utilize networkadapter 721 and/or network adapter 722 via NETWORK C 723 via networkadapter 724 and/or network adapter 725 to couple RNIC converging IHS 704to administered IHS 708. RNIC converging system 700 may utilize networkadapter 721 and/or network adapter 722 via NETWORK C 723 via networkadapter 726 to couple RNIC converging IHS 704 to administered IHS 710.

In one embodiment, network adapter 701, 703, 705, 707 and 709 may beEthernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 711, 714, 716, 719, 721, 724and 726 may be open system adapters (OSAs). Network adapters 712, 715,717, 720, 722 and 725 may be remote direct memory access (RDMA) enablednetwork adapter controllers (RNICs). In one embodiment, administrativenetwork 702, NETWORK A 713, NETWORK B 718 and NETWORK C 723 may providelocal area network (LAN) communications and/or wide area network (WAN)communications and/or virtual LAN communications and/or intranetcommunications and/or Internet communications to structures that couplethereto.

RNIC converging IHS 704 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate logical partition (LPAR) 727-1, LPAR 727-2, LPAR 727-3, LPAR727-4, LPAR 727-5, LPAR 727-6 and LPAR 727-7 in RNIC converging IHS 704.LPAR 727-1, LPAR 727-2 and LPAR 727-3 may include virtual networkadapter 728-1, virtual network adapter 728-2 and virtual network adapter728-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 728-1, virtual networkadapter 728-2 and virtual network adapter 728-3 may couple to networkadapter 711 via a channel, i.e., a bus. LPAR 727-4 and LPAR 727-5 mayinclude virtual network adapter 728-4 and virtual network adapter 728-5,respectively. Virtual network adapter 728-4 and virtual network adapter728-5 may couple to network adapter 716 via a channel. LPAR 727-6 andLPAR 727-7 may include virtual network adapter 728-6 and virtual networkadapter 728-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 728-6 and virtualnetwork adapter 728-7 may couple to network adapter 721 via a channel.

LPAR 727-1, LPAR 727-2 and LPAR 727-3 may include virtual networkadapter 729-1, virtual network adapter 729-2 and virtual network adapter729-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 729-1, virtual networkadapter 729-2 and virtual network adapter 729-3 may couple to networkadapter 712 via a channel. LPAR 727-4 and LPAR 727-5 may include virtualnetwork adapter 729-4 and virtual network adapter 729-5, respectively.Virtual network adapter 729-4 and virtual network adapter 729-5 maycouple to network adapter 717 via a channel. LPAR 727-6 and LPAR 727-7may include virtual network adapter 729-6 and virtual network adapter729-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 729-6 and virtual networkadapter 729-7 may couple to network adapter 722 via a channel.

FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 800 in the disclosed RNICconverging system 700. HCM tool 600 may store the hardware configurationinformation in HCM database 800 on a per adapter basis. In oneembodiment, for each network adapter in RNIC converging system 700, HCMtool 600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmost column,the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID), logicalidentification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, physical network identification (PNet ID) for a first port of thenetwork adapter, and the PNet ID for the second port of the networkadapter.

As shown in HCM database 800, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 711 includes MSN of 00D5380C, PID of 0008, LID of 00F0, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 711 is located in physical channel 0008 inRNIC converging IHS 704 and may be identified logically by RNICconverging IHS 704 as 00F0. Adapter 711 is a physical OSA networkadapter and couples to NETWORK A 713 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 727-1,727-2 and 727-3 of RNIC converging IHS 704 may access adapter 711 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 713.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 712 includes MSN of00D5380C, PID of 0009, LID of 02F0, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 712 is located in physical channel 0009 in RNIC converging IHS704 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 704 as 02F0.Adapter 712 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A713 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 727-1, 727-2 and 727-3 of RNICconverging IHS 704 may access adapter 712 to communicate via NETWORK A713.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 716 includes MSN of00D5380C, PID of 020A, LID of 00F4, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 716is located in physical channel 020A in RNIC converging IHS 704 and maybe identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 704 as 00F4. Adapter 716is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 718 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 727-4 and 727-5 of RNIC converging IHS 704 mayaccess adapter 716 to communicate via NETWORK B 718.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 717 includes MSN of00D5380C, PID of 020B, LID of 02F4, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter 717is located in physical channel 020B in RNIC converging IHS 704 and maybe identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 704 as 02F4. Adapter 717is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 718 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 727-4 and 727-5 of RNIC converging IHS 704 mayaccess adapter 717 to communicate via NETWORK B 718.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 721 includes MSN of00D5380C, PID of 0330, LID of 00F7, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 721is located in physical channel 0330 in RNIC converging IHS 704 and maybe identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 704 as 00F7. Adapter 721is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 723 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 727-6 and 727-7 of RNIC converging IHS 704 mayaccess adapter 721 to communicate via NETWORK C 723.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 722 includes MSN of00D5380C, PID of 0331, LID of 02F7, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter 722is located in physical channel 0331 in RNIC converging IHS 704 and maybe identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 704 as 02F7. Adapter 722is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 723 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 727-6 and 727-7 of RNIC converging IHS 704 mayaccess adapter 722 to communicate via NETWORK C 723.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 714 includes MSN of0007880A, PID of 020C, LID of 0022, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter714 is located in physical channel 020C in administered IHS 706 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 706 as 0022. Adapter 714 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 713 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 706 may access adapter 714 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 713.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 715 includes MSN of0007880A, PID of 020D, LID of 0023, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter715 is located in physical channel 020D in administered IHS 706 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 706 as 0023. Adapter 715 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 713 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 706 may access adapter 715 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 713.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 719 includes MSN of003F230A, PID of 0111, LID of 0DA1, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter719 is located in physical channel 0111 in administered IHS 708 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 708 as 0DA1. Adapter 719 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 718 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 708 may access adapter 719 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 718.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 720 includes MSN of003F230A, PID of 0112, LID of 0DA2, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter720 is located in physical channel 0112 in administered IHS 708 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 708 as 0DA2. Adapter 720 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 718 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 708 may access adapter 720 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 718.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 724 includes MSN of003F230A, PID of 020E, LID of 0024, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter724 is located in physical channel 020E in administered IHS 708 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 708 as 0024. Adapter 724 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 723 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 708 may access adapter 724 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 723.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 725 includes MSN of003F230A, PID of 020F, LID of 0025, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter725 is located in physical channel 020F in administered IHS 708 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 708 as 0025. Adapter 725 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 723 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 708 may access adapter 725 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 723.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 726 includes MSN of668A2B01, PID of 0117, LID of 06D0, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter726 is located in physical channel 0117 in administered IHS 710 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 710 as 06D0. Adapter 726 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 723 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 710 may access adapter 726 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 723.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, RNIC converging tool 1200 may group OSAadapter 711 with RNIC adapter 712. RNIC converging tool 1200 may sortthe adapters by PNet IDs and by type to group OSA and RNIC type adapterstogether. RNIC converging tool 1200 may group OSA adapter 711 with RNICadapter 712, allowing the adapters to function together on NETWORK A713. These grouped adapters, i.e. RNIC converged adapters, allow LPARsto easily utilize the adapters for RDMA communications. RDMA is remotedirect memory access, a technology that enables an IHS to exchangeinformation with another IHS without involving the processor, cache oroperating system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosed remoteRNIC converging system 900 utilizing PNet IDs. RNIC converging system900 may utilize network adapter 901, administrative network 902 andnetwork adapter 903 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 904.Administered IHS 904 may also be referred to as RNIC converging IHS 904.RNIC converging system 900 may utilize network adapter 901,administrative network 902 and network adapter 905 to couple HCM IHS 500to administered IHS 906. RNIC converging system 900 may utilize networkadapter 901, administrative network 902 and network adapter 907 tocouple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 908. Administered IHSs 904, 906and 908 couple via administrative network 902 to HCM IHS 500 to enableHCM IHS 500 to administer HCM database 1000 with HCM tool 600 to theadministered IHSs.

RNIC converging system 900 may utilize network adapter 909 and/ornetwork adapter 910 and/or network adapter 912 and/or network adapter913 and/or network adapter 914 and/or network adapter 915 and/or networkadapter 916 and/or network adapter 917 and/or network adapter 918 and/ornetwork adapter 919 via NETWORK A 920 via network adapter 921 and/ornetwork adapter 922 and/or network adapter 923 and/or network adapter924 to couple RNIC converging IHS 904 to administered IHS 906. RNICconverging system 900 may utilize network adapter 925 and/or networkadapter 926 and/or network adapter 927 and/or network adapter 928 and/ornetwork adapter 929 and/or network adapter 930 and/or network adapter931 and/or network adapter 932 and/or network adapter 933 and/or networkadapter 934 via NETWORK B 935 via network adapter 936 and/or networkadapter 937 and/or network adapter 938 and/or network adapter 939 tocouple RNIC converging IHS 904 to administered IHS 908.

In one embodiment, network adapter 901, 903, 905 and 907 may be Ethernet(ETH) adapters. Network adapters 909, 911, 913, 915, 917, 918, 919, 921,923, 925, 927 and 929 may be open system adapters (OSAs). Networkadapters 910, 912, 914, 916, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930, 931, 932, 933 and934 may be remote direct memory access (RDMA) enabled network adaptercontrollers (RNICs). In one embodiment, administrative network 902,NETWORK A 920 and NETWORK B 935 may provide local area network (LAN)communications and/or wide area network (WAN) communications and/orvirtual LAN communications and/or intranet communications and/orInternet communications to structures that couple thereto.

RNIC converging IHS 904 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate logical partition (LPAR) 940-1, LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR940-10 and LPAR 940-11 in RNIC converging IHS 904. LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7, LPAR940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may include virtualnetwork adapters. In one embodiment, the virtual network adapters may beETH, OSA or RNIC type virtual network adapters.

Referring to the HCM database 1000 of FIG. 10 in conjunction with theRNIC converging system 900 of FIG. 9, LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, LPAR940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11may each include a respective OSA type virtual network adapter. The OSAtype virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, 940-3, 940-4,LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may couple tonetwork adapter 909 via a channel, i.e., a bus. LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2,LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR940-11 may each include a respective RNIC type virtual network adapter.The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, 940-3,940-4, LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may couple tonetwork adapter 910 via a channel.

LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6 and LPAR 940-7 may each include arespective OSA type virtual network adapter. The OSA type virtualnetwork adapters of LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, 940-6 and LPAR 940-7 maycouple to network adapter 911 via a channel. LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5,LPAR 940-6 and LPAR 940-7 may each include a respective RNIC typevirtual network adapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR940-4, LPAR 940-5, 940-6 and LPAR 940-7 may couple to network adapter912 via a channel.

LPAR 940-3 may include an OSA type virtual network adapter. The OSA typevirtual network adapter of LPAR 940-3 may couple to network adapter 913via a channel. LPAR 940-3 may include an RNIC type virtual networkadapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-3 may coupleto network adapter 914 via a channel.

LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-8 and LPAR 940-10 may eachinclude a respective OSA type virtual network adapter. The OSA typevirtual network adapters of LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-4, 940-6, LPAR 940-8and LPAR 940-10 may couple to network adapter 915 via a channel. LPAR940-2, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-8 and LPAR 940-10 may eachinclude a respective RNIC type virtual network adapter. The RNIC typevirtual network adapters of LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-4, 940-6, LPAR 940-8and LPAR 940-10 may couple to network adapter 916 via a channel.

LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6,LPAR 940-7 and LPAR 940-8 may each include a respective OSA type virtualnetwork adapter. The OSA type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1,LPAR 940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7 and LPAR940-8 may couple to network adapter 917 via a channel. LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 andLPAR 940-11 may each include a respective OSA type virtual networkadapter. The OSA type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11may couple to network adapter 918 via a channel. LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-3,LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR940-11 may each include a respective OSA type virtual network adapter.The OSA type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-3, 940-5,940-7, LPAR 940-8, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may couple tonetwork adapter 919 via a channel.

LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6,LPAR 940-7 and LPAR 940-8 may each include a respective OSA type virtualnetwork adapter. The OSA type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1,LPAR 940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7 and LPAR940-8 may couple to network adapter 925 via a channel. LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7 andLPAR 940-8 may each include a respective RNIC type virtual networkadapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7 and LPAR 940-8may couple to network adapter 926 via a channel.

LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may each include a respectiveOSA type virtual network adapter. The OSA type virtual network adaptersof LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may couple to network adapter927 via a channel. LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 may eachinclude a respective RNIC type virtual network adapter. The RNIC typevirtual network adapters of LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11 maycouple to network adapter 928 via a channel.

LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-5 and LPAR 940-7 may each include arespective OSA type virtual network adapter. The OSA type virtualnetwork adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-5 and LPAR 940-7may couple to network adapter 929 via a channel. LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-3,LPAR 940-5 and LPAR 940-7 may each include a respective RNIC typevirtual network adapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR940-1, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-5 and LPAR 940-7 may couple to networkadapter 930 via a channel.

LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6,LPAR 940-7 and LPAR 940-8 may each include a respective RNIC typevirtual network adapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR940-1, LPAR 940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7 andLPAR 940-8 may couple to network adapter 931 via a channel. LPAR 940-1,LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10and LPAR 940-11 may each include a respective RNIC type virtual networkadapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11may couple to network adapter 932 via a channel.

LPAR 940-1, LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6,LPAR 940-7 and LPAR 940-8 may each include a respective RNIC typevirtual network adapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR940-1, LPAR 940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-5, LPAR 940-6, LPAR 940-7 andLPAR 940-8 may couple to network adapter 933 via a channel. LPAR 940-1,LPAR 940-2, LPAR 940-3, LPAR 940-4, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10and LPAR 940-11 may each include a respective RNIC type virtual networkadapter. The RNIC type virtual network adapters of LPAR 940-1, LPAR940-2, 940-3, 940-4, LPAR 940-7, LPAR 940-9, LPAR 940-10 and LPAR 940-11may couple to network adapter 934 via a channel.

FIG. 10 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 1000 in the disclosedRNIC converging system 900. HCM tool 600 may store the hardwareconfiguration information in HCM database 1000 on a per adapter basis.In one embodiment, for each network adapter in RNIC converging system900, HCM tool 600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmostcolumn, the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID),logical identification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR)access list, physical network identification (PNet ID) for a first portof the network adapter, and the PNet ID for the second port of thenetwork adapter.

As shown in HCM database 1000, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 909 includes MSN of 000F3801, PID of 0011, LID of 00F0, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02, 03, 04, 08, 09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter 909 is located inphysical channel 0011 in RNIC converging IHS 904 and may be identifiedlogically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 00F0. Adapter 909 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 940-1, 940-2, 940-3, 940-4, 940-8, 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 909 to communicate via NETWORK A920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 910 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0020, LID of 05CO₃ type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 08, 09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA.In other words, adapter 910 is located in physical channel 0020 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 05C0. Adapter 910 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-8, 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 910 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 911 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0012, LID of 00F9, type of 0087, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 911 is located in physical channel 0012 in RNIC converging IHS904 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 00F9.Adapter 911 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-4, 940-5, 940-6 and 940-7 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 911 to communicate via NETWORK A920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 912 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0021, LID of 05C9, type of 0008, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 912 is located in physical channel 0021 in RNIC converging IHS904 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 05C9.Adapter 912 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-4, 940-5, 940-6 and 940-7 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 912 to communicate via NETWORK A920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 913 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0013, LID of 00FE, type of 0087, LPAR access list of03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter 913 islocated in physical channel 0013 in RNIC converging IHS 904 and may beidentified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 00FE. Adapter 913 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-3 of RNIC converging IHS 904 may access adapter913 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 914 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0022, LID of 05CE, type of 0008, LPAR access list of03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter 914 islocated in physical channel 0022 in RNIC converging IHS 904 and may beidentified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 05CE. Adapter 914 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-3 of RNIC converging IHS 904 may access adapter914 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 915 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0014, LID of 0100, type of 0087, LPAR access list of02, 04, 06, 08 and 0A, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In otherwords, adapter 915 is located in physical channel 0014 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0100. Adapter 915 is a physical OSA network adapter andcouples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-2, 940-4,940-6, 940-8 and 940-10 of RNIC converging IHS 904 may access adapter915 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 916 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0023, LID of 0600, type of 0008, LPAR access list of02, 04, 06, 08 and 0A, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In otherwords, adapter 916 is located in physical channel 0023 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0600. Adapter 916 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-2, 940-4,940-6, 940-8 and 940-10 of RNIC converging IHS 904 may access adapter916 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 917 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0015, LID of 0106, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 08, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA.In other words, adapter 917 is located in physical channel 0015 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0106. Adapter 917 is a physical OSA network adapter andcouples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-5, 940-6, 940-7 and 940-8 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 917 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 918 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0016, LID of 010F, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 07, 09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA.In other words, adapter 918 is located in physical channel 0016 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 010F. Adapter 918 is a physical OSA network adapter andcouples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-7, 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 918 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 919 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0017, LID of 0118, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA.In other words, adapter 919 is located in physical channel 0017 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0118. Adapter 919 is a physical OSA network adapter andcouples to NETWORK A 920 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-3,940-5, 940-7, 940-8, 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 919 to communicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 925 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0018, LID of 0120, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 08, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB.In other words, adapter 925 is located in physical channel 0018 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0120. Adapter 925 is a physical OSA network adapter andcouples to NETWORK B 935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-5, 940-6, 940-7 and 940-8 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 925 to communicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 926 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0024, LID of 0606, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 08, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB.In other words, adapter 926 is located in physical channel 0024 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0606. Adapter 926 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK B 935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-5, 940-6, 940-7 and 940-8 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 926 to communicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 927 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0019, LID of 0129, type of 0087, LPAR access list of09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words,adapter 927 is located in physical channel 0019 in RNIC converging IHS904 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 0129.Adapter 927 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 927 to communicate via NETWORK B935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 928 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0025, LID of 060F, type of 0008, LPAR access list of09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words,adapter 928 is located in physical channel 0025 in RNIC converging IHS904 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 060F.Adapter 928 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 928 to communicate via NETWORK B935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 929 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 001A, LID of 012D, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 03, 05 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words,adapter 929 is located in physical channel 001A in RNIC converging IHS904 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 012D.Adapter 929 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-3, 940-5 and 940-7 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 929 to communicate via NETWORK B935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 930 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0026, LID of 0613, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 03, 05 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words,adapter 930 is located in physical channel 0026 in RNIC converging IHS904 and may be identified logically by RNIC converging IHS 904 as 0613.Adapter 930 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-3, 940-5 and 940-7 of RNICconverging IHS 904 may access adapter 930 to communicate via NETWORK B935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 931 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0027, LID of 0618, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 08, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB.In other words, adapter 931 is located in physical channel 0027 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0618. Adapter 931 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK B 935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-5, 940-6, 940-7 and 940-8 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 931 to communicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 932 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0028, LID of 0621, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 07, 09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB.In other words, adapter 932 is located in physical channel 0028 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0621. Adapter 932 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK B 935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-7, 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 932 to communicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 933 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 0029, LID of 062A, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 08, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB.In other words, adapter 933 is located in physical channel 0029 in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 062A. Adapter 933 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK B 935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-5, 940-6, 940-7 and 940-8 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 933 to communicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 934 includes MSN of000F3801, PID of 002A, LID of 0633, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02, 03, 04, 07, 09, 0A and 0B, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB.In other words, adapter 934 is located in physical channel 002A in RNICconverging IHS 904 and may be identified logically by RNIC convergingIHS 904 as 0633. Adapter 934 is a physical RNIC network adapter andcouples to NETWORK B 935 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 940-1, 940-2,940-3, 940-4, 940-7, 940-9, 940-10 and 940-11 of RNIC converging IHS 904may access adapter 934 to communicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 921 includes MSN of03006FF7, PID of 0101, LID of 0F01, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter921 is located in physical channel 0101 in administered IHS 906 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 906 as 0F01. Adapter 921 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 906 may access adapter 921 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 922 includes MSN of03006FF7, PID of 0201, LID of 0F02, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter922 is located in physical channel 0201 in administered IHS 906 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 906 as 0F02. Adapter 922 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 906 may access adapter 922 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 923 includes MSN of03006FF7, PID of 0102, LID of 0F03, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter923 is located in physical channel 0102 in administered IHS 906 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 906 as 0F03. Adapter 923 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 906 may access adapter 923 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 924 includes MSN of03006FF7, PID of 0202, LID of 0F04, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter924 is located in physical channel 0202 in administered IHS 906 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 906 as 0F04. Adapter 924 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 920 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 906 may access adapter 924 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 920.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 936 includes MSN ofD832900A, PID of 0055, LID of DD06, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter936 is located in physical channel 0055 in administered IHS 908 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 908 as DD06. Adapter 936 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 935 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 908 may access adapter 936 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 937 includes MSN ofD832900A, PID of 0057, LID of DD07, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter937 is located in physical channel 0057 in administered IHS 908 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 908 as DD07. Adapter 937 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 935 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 908 may access adapter 937 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 938 includes MSN ofD832900A, PID of 0056, LID of DD08, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter938 is located in physical channel 0056 in administered IHS 908 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 908 as DD08. Adapter 938 isa physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 935 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 908 may access adapter 938 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 935.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 939 includes MSN ofD832900A, PID of 0058, LID of DD09, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter939 is located in physical channel 0058 in administered IHS 908 and maybe identified logically by administered IHS 908 as DD09. Adapter 939 isa physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 935 on bothports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 908 may access adapter 939 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 935.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, RNIC converging tool 1200 may group many OSAadapters with RNIC adapters, thus creating RNIC converged adapters. Tocreate RNIC converged adapters, RNIC converging tool 1200 may sort theadapters by PNet IDs and adapter types. In one embodiment, RNICconverged adapters should be on the same network to function. WithoutPNet IDs and adapter types, RNIC converging tool 1200 would not be ableto create RNIC converged adapters on the same network.

RNIC converged adapters allow OSA adapter 909 to initiate TCP/IPcommunications. When converged with RNIC adapter 910, RDMAcommunications may be more readily initiated and conducted. RNICconverged adapters allow LPARs to easily utilize the RNIC convergingadapters for RDMA communications. RDMA communications may exhibit lowerlatency than TCP/IP communications. RDMA is remote direct memory access,a technology that enables an IHS to exchange information with anotherIHS without involving the processor, cache or operating system.

With respect to an RNIC converging IHS, the disclosed methodologylogically causes two unlike adapters, such as OSA and RNIC adapters,that are connected to or associated with the same physical network tofunction together, i.e to converge, as if the two adapters were a singleadapter (i.e. using standard TCP/IP protocol over the OSA and RDMAprotocols over the RNIC.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an RNIC converging information handlingsystem (IHS) 1100 that may be used in the disclosed RNIC convergingsystem. RNIC converging IHS 1100 includes a processor 1105 that mayinclude multiple cores. RNIC converging IHS 1100 processes, transfers,communicates, modifies, stores or otherwise handles information indigital form, analog form or other form. In one embodiment, RNICconverging IHS 1100 includes a bus 1110, i.e. channel 1110. In anotherembodiment, bus 1110 may be multiple busses, i.e., multiple channels.Bus 1110 may couple processor 1105 to memory 1115 via a memorycontroller 1120 and memory bus 1125. System memory 1115 may also bereferred to as main memory. System memory 1115 may be a static randomaccess memory (SRAM) array or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)array. Processor 1105 may also include local memory such as L1, L2 andL3 caches.

In one embodiment, a video graphics controller 1130 couples display 1135to bus 1110. In another embodiment, RNIC converging IHS 1100 may operatewithout display 1135 and/or video graphics controller 1130. Nonvolatilestorage 1140, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), CDdrive, DVD drive, or other nonvolatile storage couples to bus 1110 toprovide RNIC converging IHS 1100 with permanent storage of information.System memory 1115 and nonvolatile storage 1140 are both forms of memorystores. In one embodiment, nonvolatile storage 1140 stores a hypervisor1145 (HYPERVISOR) that governs operation of RNIC converging IHS 1100. Inanother embodiment, nonvolatile storage 1140 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of RNIC converging IHS 1100.In another embodiment, nonvolatile storage 1140 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of RNIC converging IHS 1100,where the operating system includes a hypervisor (not shown).

I/O devices 1150, such as speakers, a keyboard and a pointing device,may couple to bus 1110 via I/O controller 1155 and I/O bus 1160. One ormore expansion busses 1165, i.e. channels 1165, such as USB, IEEE 1394bus, ATA, SATA, PCI, PCIE, DVI, HDMI and other busses, i.e. channels,couple to bus 1110 to facilitate the connection of peripherals anddevices to RNIC converging IHS 1100. Network interface controllers(NICs), for example, NIC 1170-1, NIC 1170-2, . . . , NIC 1170-N, whereinN is the number of NICs, may couple to bus 1110 to enable RNICconverging IHS 1100 to connect by wire or wirelessly to a network andother information handling systems. NIC 1170-1, NIC 1170-2, . . . , NIC1170-N may also be called a network communication adapter, networkinterface adapter, network adapter, network interface and/or an adapter.NIC 1170-1, NIC 1170-2, . . . , NIC 1170-N may take many forms. Forexample, NIC 1170-1, NIC 1170-2, . . . , NIC 1170-N may take the form ofan Ethernet (ETH) adapter, open systems adapter (OSA), RDMA enablednetwork interface controller (RN IC) or other network communicationadapter.

While FIG. 11 shows one IHS that employs processor 1105, the IHS maytake many forms. For example, RNIC converging IHS 1100 may take the formof a mainframe, server, central processor complex (CPC), desktop,portable, laptop, notebook, tablet or other form factor computer or dataprocessing system. RNIC converging IHS 1100 may take other form factorssuch as a gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portabletelephone device, a communication device or other devices that include aprocessor and memory.

RNIC converging IHS 1100 includes a RNIC converging tool computerprogram product 1200 on digital media 1175 such as a CD, DVD or othermedia. For simplicity, the term RNIC converging tool will be used below.RNIC converging IHS 1100 may store RNIC converging tool 1200 innonvolatile storage 1140 as RNIC converging tool 1200′. RNIC convergingIHS 1100 may also store hypervisor 1145 (HYPERVISOR) and logicalpartition (LPAR) 1180-1, LPAR 1180-2, . . . , LPAR 1180-M, wherein M isthe number of LPARs, in nonvolatile storage 1140.

In another embodiment, RNIC converging tool 1200′ may be part of thehypervisor 1145 (not shown). In another embodiment, RNIC converging tool1200′ may be in LPAR 1180-1, LPAR 1180-2, . . . , LPAR 1180-M. Inanother embodiment, RNIC converging IHS 1100 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of RNIC converging IHS 1100,where the operating system includes a hypervisor (not shown) and wherethe operating system includes LPAR 1180-1, LPAR 1180-2, . . . , LPAR1180-M as virtual machines (not shown). When RNIC converging IHS 1100initializes, the IHS loads hypervisor 1145 into system memory 1115 forexecution as hypervisor 1145′. RNIC converging IHS 1100 also loads RNICconverging tool 1200′ into system memory 1115 for execution as RNICconverging tool 1200″. RNIC converging IHS 1100 may also load LPAR1180-1, LPAR 1180-2, . . . , LPAR 1180-M into system memory 1115 forexecution as LPAR 1180-1′, LPAR 1180-2′, . . . , LPAR 1180-M′,respectively.

In another embodiment, when RNIC converging IHS 1100 initializes, theIHS may load an operating system (not shown) into system memory 1115 forexecution. In another embodiment, when RNIC converging IHS 1100initializes, the IHS may load an operating system (not shown) thatincludes a hypervisor (not shown) and includes LPAR 1180-1, LPAR 1180-2,. . . , LPAR 1180-M as virtual machines (not shown) into system memory1115 for execution.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of anRNIC converging tool 1200 that may be used in the disclosed RNICconverging system. Process flow commences when RNIC converging tool 1200in RNIC converging IHS 1100 initializes, as per block 1205. If HCM tool600 in HCM IHS 500 does not transmit HCM database 580, as per block1210, process flow continues at block 1210. If HCM tool 600 in HCM IHS500 does transmit HCM database 580, as per block 1210, a hypervisoragent in RNIC converging IHS 1100 may receive HCM database 580, as perblock 1215. In one embodiment, the hypervisor agent in the RNICconverging IHS 1100 is included in hypervisor 1145.

The hypervisor agent may allow hypervisor 1145 to access HCM database580. Hypervisor 1145 may transmit HCM database 580 to RNIC convergingtool 1200, as per block 1220. RNIC converging tool 1200 may extract thehardware configuration information of RNIC converging IHS 1100 from theHCM database 580, as per block 1225. In one embodiment, the hardwareconfiguration information of RNIC converging IHS 1100 from HCM database580 may include, but is not limited to, on a per adapter basis, machineserial numbers (MSNs), physical identifications (PIDs), logicalidentifications (LIDs), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, physical network identification (PNet ID) of the first port of theadapter and the PNet ID of the second port of the adapter. In oneembodiment, the adapter type “0087” may be an OSA adapter and theadapter type “0008” may be an RN IC adapter.

In one embodiment, the RNIC converging tool 1200 may share the extractedhardware configuration information of RNIC converging IHS 1100 withhypervisor 1145. Hypervisor 1145 may update the hardware configurationof RNIC converging IHS 1100 with the extracted hardware configurationinformation of RNIC converging IHS 1100. In another embodiment, the RNICconverging tool 1200 may share the extracted hardware configurationinformation of RNIC converging IHS 1100 with LPARs 1180-1, 1180-2, . . ., 1180-M, where M is the number of LPARs in RNIC converging IHS 1100.LPARs 1180-1, 1180-2, . . . , 1180-M may update their respectivehardware configuration with the extracted hardware configurationinformation of RNIC converging IHS 1100.

RNIC converging tool 1200 may sort the extracted hardware configurationinformation by PNet IDs, as per block 1230. For example, the RNICconverging tool 1200 may list all adapters with the PNet ID of “NETA”first, followed by all adapters with the PNet ID of “NETB”. RNICconverging tool 1200 may further sort the extracted configurationinformation by adapter type, as per block 1235. For example, the RNICconverging tool 1200 may list all adapters with the type “0087” and thePNet ID “NETA” first, followed by the adapters with the type “0008” andthe PNet ID of “NETA”, further followed by the adapters with the type“0087” and the PNet ID of “NETB”.

In one embodiment, RNIC converging tool 1200 may group OSA adapters andRNIC adapters with matching PNet IDs, as per block 1240. For example, asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, RNIC converging tool 1200 may group networkadapter 711 and network adapter 712 together because adapter 711 is thetype “0087”, i.e. OSA, and adapter 712 is the type “0008”, i.e. RNIC,and both adapters 711 and 712 have a PNet ID of “NETA”. The RNICconverging tool 1200 may allow an LPAR with access to utilize thegrouped adapters to communicate using RDMA, which may require both anOSA and RNIC adapter, as per block 1245. Process flow terminates at endblock 1250. Alternatively, process flow may continue at start block 605.

III. Bridging System

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosedbridging system 1300 utilizing PNet IDs. Bridging system 1300 mayutilize network adapter 1301, administrative network 1302 and networkadapter 1303 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 1304.Administered IHS 1304 may be referred to as bridging IHS 1304. Bridgingsystem 1300 may utilize network adapter 1301, administrative network1302 and network adapter 1305 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS1306. Bridging system 1300 may utilize network adapter 1301,administrative network 1302 and network adapter 1307 to couple HCM IHS500 to administered IHS 1308. Bridging system 1300 may utilize networkadapter 1301, administrative network 1302 and network adapter 1309 tocouple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 1310. Administered IHSs 1304,1306, 1308 and 1310 couple via administrative network 1302 to HCM IHS500 to enable HCM IHS 500 to administer HCM database 1400 with HCM tool600 to the administered IHSs.

Bridging system 1300 may utilize network adapter 1311 via NETWORK A 1312via network adapter 1313 to couple bridging IHS 1304 to administered IHS1306. Bridging system 1300 may utilize network adapter 1314 via NETWORKB 1315 via network adapter 1316 to couple bridging IHS 1304 toadministered IHS 1308. Bridging system 1300 may utilize network adapter1317 via NETWORK C 1318 via network adapter 1319 to couple bridging IHS1304 to administered IHS 1310.

In one embodiment, network adapters 1301, 1303, 1305, 1307 and 1309 maybe Ethernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 1311, 1313, 1314, 1316,1317 and 1319 may be open system adapters (OSAs). In one embodiment,administrative network 1302, NETWORK A 1312, NETWORK B 1315 and NETWORKC 1318 may provide local area network (LAN) communications and/or widearea network (WAN) communications and/or virtual LAN communicationsand/or intranet communications and/or Internet communications tostructures that couple thereto.

Bridging IHS 1304 may include a hypervisor 1745 that may create logicalpartition (LPAR) 1320-1, LPAR 1320-2, LPAR 1320-3, LPAR 1320-4, LPAR1320-5, LPAR 1320-6 and LPAR 1320-7 in bridging IHS 1304. LPAR 1320-1,LPAR 1320-2 and LPAR 1320-3 may include virtual internal network adapter1321-1, virtual internal network adapter 1321-2 and virtual internalnetwork adapter 1321-3, respectively. Virtual internal network adapter1321-1 and/or virtual internal network adapter 1321-2 and/or virtualinternal network adapter 1321-3 may couple via channel 1322 to virtualinternal network adapter 1323. Virtual internal network adapter 1323 maybe referred to as bridge port 1323.

LPAR 1320-4 and LPAR 1320-5 may include virtual internal network adapter1321-4 and virtual internal network adapter 1321-5, respectively.Virtual internal network adapter 1321-4 and/or virtual internal networkadapter 1321-5 may couple via channel 1324 to virtual internal networkadapter 1325. Virtual internal network adapter 1325 may be referred toas bridge port 1325.

LPAR 1320-6 and LPAR 1320-7 may include virtual internal network adapter1321-6 and virtual internal network adapter 1321-7, respectively.Virtual internal network adapter 1321-6 and/or virtual internal networkadapter 1321-7 may couple via channel 1326 to virtual internal networkadapter 1327. Virtual internal network adapter 1327 may be referred toas bridge port 1327.

In one embodiment, virtual internal network adapters 1321-1, 1321-2,1321-3, 1321-4, 1321-5, 1321-6, 1321-7, 1323, 1325 and 1327 may beinternal queued direct (IQD) communication adapters. Channel 1322,channel 1324 and channel 1326 may be respective IQD communicationnetworks internal to bridging IHS 1304.

Hypervisor 1745 may create virtual switch (VSWITCH) 1328, VSWITCH 1329and VSWITCH 1330 in bridging IHS 1304. In one embodiment, VSWITCH 1328,1329 and 1330 are each specialized LPARs. VSWITCH 1328 may includevirtual internal network adapter 1323 and network adapter 1311. VSWITCH1329 may include virtual internal network adapter 1325 and networkadapter 1314. VSWITCH 1330 may include virtual internal network adapter1327 and network adapter 1317.

FIG. 14 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 1400 in the disclosedbridging system 1300. HCM tool 600 may store the hardware configurationinformation in HCM database 1400 on a per adapter basis. In oneembodiment, for each network adapter in bridging system 1300, HCM tool600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmost column, themachine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID), logicalidentification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, physical network identification (PNet ID) network adapter.

As shown in HCM database 1400, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 1311 includes MSN of 0A0A0B11, PID of 0006, LID of 00F1, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 1311 is located in physical channel 0006in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 00F1. Adapter 1311 is a physical OSA network adapter and couplesto NETWORK A 1312 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1320-1, 1320-2 and 1320-3of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1311 to communicate via NETWORKA 1312.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1314 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0007, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1314 is located in physical channel 0007 in bridging IHS 1304 and may beidentified logically by bridging IHS 1304 as 00F5. Adapter 1314 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1315 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 1320-4 and 1320-5 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter1314 to communicate via NETWORK B 1315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1317 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0008, LID of 00F8, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1317 is located in physical channel 0008 in bridging IHS 1304 and may beidentified logically by bridging IHS 1304 as 00F8. Adapter 1317 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1318 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 1320-6 and 1320-7 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter1317 to communicate via NETWORK C 1318.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-1 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0112, LID of 04C1, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 of NETA and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-1 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-1 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0112in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C1. Adapter 1321-1 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1322 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1320-1, 1320-2and 1320-3 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-1 to communicatevia IQD network 1322. PNet ID 1 of NETA indicates that a bridging tool1800 may bridge adapter 1321-1 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-1,1320-2 and 1320-3 to access adapter 1311 to communicate via NETWORK A1312.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-2 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0112, LID of 04C2, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 of NETA and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-2 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-2 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0112in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C2. Adapter 1321-2 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1322 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1320-1, 1320-2and 1320-3 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-2 to communicatevia IQD network 1322. PNet ID 1 of NETA indicates that a bridging tool1800 may bridge adapter 1321-2 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-1,1320-2 and 1320-3 to access adapter 1311 to communicate via NETWORK A1312.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-3 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0112, LID of 04C3, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 of NETA and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-3 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-3 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0112in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C3. Adapter 1321-3 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1322 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1320-1, 1320-2and 1320-3 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-3 to communicatevia IQD network 1322. PNet ID 1 of NETA indicates that a bridging tool1800 may bridge adapter 1321-3 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-1,1320-2 and 1320-3 to access adapter 1311 to communicate via NETWORK A1312.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-4 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0113, LID of 04C5, type of 008D, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-4 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-4 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0113in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C5. Adapter 1321-4 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1324 on virtual channel 0113. LPAR 1320-4 and1320-5 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-4 to communicate viaIQD network 1324. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that a bridging tool 1800may bridge adapter 1321-4 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-4 and1320-5 to access adapter 1314 to communicate via NETWORK B 1315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-5 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0113, LID of 04C6, type of 008D, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-5 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-5 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0113in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C6. Adapter 1321-5 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1324 on virtual channel 0113. LPAR 1320-4 and1320-5 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-5 to communicate viaIQD network 1324. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that a bridging tool 1800may bridge adapter 1321-5 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-4 and1320-5 to access adapter 1314 to communicate via NETWORK B 1315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-6 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0114, LID of 04C8, type of 008D, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 of NETC and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-6 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-6 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0114in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C8. Adapter 1321-6 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1326 on virtual channel 0114. LPAR 1320-6 and1320-7 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-6 to communicate viaIQD network 1326. PNet ID 1 of NETC indicates that a bridging tool 1800may bridge adapter 1321-6 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-6 and1320-7 to access adapter 1317 to communicate via NETWORK C 1318.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1321-7 includes MSN of0A0A0B11, PID of 0114, LID of 04C9, type of 008D, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 of NETC and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1321-7 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1321-7 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0114in bridging IHS 1304 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1304 as 04C9. Adapter 1321-7 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1326 on virtual channel 0114. LPAR 1320-6 and1320-7 of bridging IHS 1304 may access adapter 1321-7 to communicate viaIQD network 1326. PNet ID 1 of NETC indicates that a bridging tool 1800may bridge adapter 1321-7 with adapter 1311 to allow LPAR 1320-6 and1320-7 to access adapter 1317 to communicate via NETWORK C 1318.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1313 includes MSN of0000F12A, PID of 0022, LID of 0DA1, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter1313 is located in physical channel 0022 in administered IHS 1306 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1306 as 0DA1. Adapter1313 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 1312 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1306 may access adapter 1313 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 1312.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1316 includes MSN ofDDD32AA, PID of 0054, LID of 00C1, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1316 is located in physical channel 0054 in administered IHS 1308 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1308 as 00C1. Adapter1316 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1315 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1308 may access adapter 1316 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1315.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1319 includes MSN of000000B2, PID of 0001, LID of 0DD4, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1319 is located in physical channel 0001 in administered IHS 1310 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1310 as 0DD4. Adapter1319 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1318 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1310 may access adapter 1319 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 1318.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, in the HCM database 1400 of FIG. 14 IQDadapters 1321-6 and 1321-7 exhibit a PNet ID of NETC. This indicates tobridging tool 1800 (not shown in FIG. 13, but shown in FIG. 18) that theinternal network IQD 1326 should be bridged to an external network(NETWORK C) that exhibits the same PNet ID as internal network IQD 1326.More particularly, bridging tool 1800 may bridge internal networks, i.e.networks internal to bridging IHS 1304, to external networks with amatching PNet ID. In one embodiment, an internal network (e.g. IQD 1426)is not assigned a PNet ID in the HCM database 1400 unless the internalnetwork should be bridged to an external network, such as OSA 1317 thatexhibits a matching PNet ID. In this particular example, OSA 1317exhibits a PNet ID of NETC and IQD internal network IQD 1326 alsoexhibits the same PNet ID of NETC. In response to this match of PNetIDs, bridging tool 1800 may bridge the connection between IQD 1326 andOSA 1317, thus providing IQD 1326 with access to external NETWORK C.Without this bridge, provided by bridge port 1327 and (VSWITCH) 1330,IQD channels are only internal and not externally connected, in oneembodiment. In one embodiment, an internal network such as IQD 1326 isnot provided with a PNet ID unless that internal network is to bebridged with an external network.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosedbridging system 1500 utilizing PNet IDs. Bridging system 1500 mayutilize network adapter 1501, administrative network 1502 and networkadapter 1503 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 1504.Administered IHS 1504 may be referred to as bridging IHS 1504. Bridgingsystem 1500 may utilize network adapter 1501, administrative network1502 and network adapter 1505 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS1506. Bridging system 1500 may utilize network adapter 1501,administrative network 1502 and network adapter 1507 to couple HCM IHS500 to administered IHS 1508. Administered IHSs 1504, 1506 and 1508couple via administrative network 1502 to HCM IHS 500 to enable HCM IHS500 to administer HCM database 1600 with HCM tool 600 to theadministered IHSs.

Bridging system 1500 may utilize network adapter 1509 via NETWORK A 1510via network adapter 1511 to couple bridging IHS 1504 to administered IHS1506. Bridging system 1500 may utilize network adapter 1512 via NETWORKB 1513 via network adapter 1514 to couple bridging IHS 1504 toadministered IHS 1508.

In one embodiment, network adapters 1501, 1503, 1505 and 1507 may beEthernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 1509, 1511, 1512 and 1514 maybe open system adapters (OSAs). In one embodiment, administrativenetwork 1502, NETWORK A 1510 and NETWORK B 1513 may provide local areanetwork (LAN) communications and/or wide area network (WAN)communications and/or virtual LAN communications and/or intranetcommunications and/or Internet communications to structures that couplethereto.

Bridging IHS 1504 may include a hypervisor 1745 that may create logicalpartition (LPAR) 1515-1, LPAR 1515-2, LPAR 1515-3, LPAR 1515-4, LPAR1515-5, LPAR 1515-6 and LPAR 1515-7 in bridging IHS 1504. LPAR 1515-1,LPAR 1515-2 and LPAR 1515-3 may include virtual internal network adapter1516-1, virtual internal network adapter 1516-2 and virtual internalnetwork adapter 1516-3, respectively. Virtual internal network adapter1516-1 and/or virtual internal network adapter 1516-2 and/or virtualinternal network adapter 1516-3 may couple via channel 1517 to virtualinternal network adapter 1518. Virtual internal network adapter 1518 maybe referred to as bridge port 1518.

LPAR 1515-4, LPAR 1515-5, LPAR 1515-6 and LPAR 1515-7 may includevirtual internal network adapter 1516-4, virtual internal networkadapter 1516-5, virtual internal network adapter 1516-6 and virtualinternal network adapter 1516-7, respectively. Virtual internal networkadapter 1516-4 and/or virtual internal network adapter 1516-5 and/orvirtual internal network adapter 1516-6 and/or virtual internal networkadapter 1516-7 may couple via channel 1519 to virtual internal networkadapter 1520. Virtual internal network adapter 1520 may be referred toas bridge port 1520.

In one embodiment, virtual internal network adapters 1516-1, 1516-2,1516-3, 1516-4, 1516-5, 1516-6, 1516-7, 1518 and 1519 may be internalqueued direct (IQD) communication adapters. Channel 1517 and channel1519 may be respective IQD communication networks internal to bridgingIHS 1504.

Hypervisor 1745 in bridging IHS 1504 may create virtual switch (VSWITCH)1521 and VSWITCH 1522 in bridging IHS 1504. In one embodiment, VSWITCH1521 and 1522 are each specialized LPARs. VSWITCH 1521 may includevirtual internal network adapter 1518 and network adapter 1509. VSWITCH1522 may include virtual internal network adapter 1520 and networkadapter 1512.

In one embodiment, administered IHS 1508 may be a bridging IHS.Administered IHS 1508 may include a hypervisor 1745 that may create LPAR1523-1 and LPAR 1523-2 in administered IHS 1508. LPAR 1523-1 and LPAR1523-2 may include virtual internal network adapter 1524-1 and virtualinternal network adapter 1524-2, respectively. Virtual internal networkadapter 1524-1 and/or virtual internal network adapter 1524-2 may couplevia channel 1525 to virtual internal network adapter 1526. Virtualinternal network adapter 1526 may be referred to as bridge port 1526.

In one embodiment, virtual internal network adapters 1524-1 and 1524-2may be internal queued direct (IQD) communication adapters. Channel 1525may be an IQD communication network internal to administered IHS 1508.Hypervisor 1745 in administered IHS 1508 may create virtual switch(VSWITCH) 1527 in administered IHS 1508. In one embodiment, VSWITCH 1527may be a specialized LPAR. VSWITCH 1527 may include virtual internalnetwork adapter 1526 and network adapter 1514.

FIG. 16 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 1600 in the disclosedbridging system 1500. HCM tool 600 may store the hardware configurationinformation in HCM database 1600 on a per adapter basis. In oneembodiment, for each network adapter in bridging system 1500, HCM tool600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmost column, themachine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID), logicalidentification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, physical network identification (PNet ID) network adapter.

As shown in HCM database 1600, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 1509 includes MSN of 03F00A21, PID of 0006, LID of 00F1, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 1509 is located in physical channel 0006in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1504 as 00F1. Adapter 1509 is a physical OSA network adapter and couplesto NETWORK A 1510 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1515-1, 1515-2 and 1515-3of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1509 to communicate via NETWORKA 1510.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1512 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0007, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words,adapter 1512 is located in physical channel 0007 in bridging IHS 1504and may be identified logically by bridging IHS 1504 as 00F5. Adapter1512 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1513 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1515-4, 1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 of bridgingIHS 1504 may access adapter 1512 to communicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-1 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0111, LID of 04C0, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 of NETA and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1516-1 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1516-1 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0111in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1504 as 04C0. Adapter 1516-1 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1517 on virtual channel 0111. LPAR 1515-1, 1515-2and 1515-3 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-1 to communicatevia IQD network 1517. PNet ID 1 of NETA indicates that a bridging tool1800 may bridge adapter 1516-1 with adapter 1509 to allow LPAR 1515-1,1515-2 and 1515-3 to access adapter 1509 to communicate via NETWORK A1510.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-2 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0111, LID of 04C1, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 of NETA and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1516-2 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1516-2 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0111in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1504 as 04C1. Adapter 1516-2 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1517 on virtual channel 0111. LPAR 1515-1, 1515-2and 1515-3 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-2 to communicatevia IQD network 1517. PNet ID 1 of NETA indicates that a bridging tool1800 may bridge adapter 1516-2 with adapter 1509 to allow LPAR 1515-1,1515-2 and 1515-3 to access adapter 1509 to communicate via NETWORK A1510.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-3 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0111, LID of 04C2, type of 008D, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 of NETA and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1516-3 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1516-3 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0111in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1504 as 04C2. Adapter 1516-3 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1517 on virtual channel 0111. LPAR 1515-1, 1515-2and 1515-3 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-3 to communicatevia IQD network 1517. PNet ID 1 of NETA indicates that a bridging tool1800 may bridge adapter 1516-3 with adapter 1509 to allow LPAR 1515-1,1515-2 and 1515-3 to access adapter 1509 to communicate via NETWORK A1510.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-4 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0112, LID of 04C4, type of 008D, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entrybecause adapter 1516-4 is virtual and does not have a second port. Inother words, adapter 1516-4 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel0112 in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridgingIHS 1504 as 04C4. Adapter 1516-4 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1519 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1515-4,1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-4to communicate via IQD network 1519. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that abridging tool 1800 may bridge adapter 1516-4 with adapter 1512 to allowLPAR 1515-4, 1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 to access adapter 1512 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-5 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0112, LID of 04C5, type of 008D, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entrybecause adapter 1516-5 is virtual and does not have a second port. Inother words, adapter 1516-5 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel0112 in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridgingIHS 1504 as 04C5. Adapter 1516-5 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1519 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1515-4,1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-5to communicate via IQD network 1519. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that abridging tool 1800 may bridge adapter 1516-5 with adapter 1512 to allowLPAR 1515-4, 1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 to access adapter 1512 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-6 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0112, LID of 04C6, type of 008D, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entrybecause adapter 1516-6 is virtual and does not have a second port. Inother words, adapter 1516-6 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel0112 in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridgingIHS 1504 as 04C6. Adapter 1516-6 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1519 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1515-4,1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-6to communicate via IQD network 1519. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that abridging tool 1800 may bridge adapter 1516-6 with adapter 1512 to allowLPAR 1515-4, 1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 to access adapter 1512 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1516-7 includes MSN of03F00A21, PID of 0112, LID of 04C7, type of 008D, LPAR access list of04, 05, 06 and 07, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entrybecause adapter 1516-7 is virtual and does not have a second port. Inother words, adapter 1516-7 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel0112 in bridging IHS 1504 and may be identified logically by bridgingIHS 1504 as 04C7. Adapter 1516-7 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1519 on virtual channel 0112. LPAR 1515-4,1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 of bridging IHS 1504 may access adapter 1516-7to communicate via IQD network 1519. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that abridging tool 1800 may bridge adapter 1516-7 with adapter 1512 to allowLPAR 1515-4, 1515-5, 1515-6 and 1515-7 to access adapter 1512 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1511 includes MSN of2338282D, PID of 0031, LID of 00F3, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter1511 is located in physical channel 0031 in administered IHS 1506 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1506 as 00F3. Adapter1511 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 1510 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1506 may access adapter 1511 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 1510.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1514 includes MSN of2338282D, PID of 0022, LID of 0DA1, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1514 is located in physical channel 0022 in bridging IHS 1508 and may beidentified logically by bridging IHS 1508 as 0DA1. Adapter 1514 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1513 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 1515-1 and 1515-2 of bridging IHS 1508 may access adapter1514 to communicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1524-1 includes MSN of2338282D, PID of 0200, LID of 06D1, type of 008D, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1524-1 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1524-1 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0200in bridging IHS 1508 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1508 as 06D1. Adapter 1524-1 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1525 on virtual channel 0200. LPAR 1523-1 and1523-2 of bridging IHS 1508 may access adapter 1524-1 to communicate viaIQD network 1525. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that a bridging tool 1800may bridge adapter 1524-1 with adapter 1514 to allow LPAR 1523-1 and1523-2 to access adapter 1514 to communicate via NETWORK B 1513.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1524-2 includes MSN of2338282D, PID of 0200, LID of 06D2, type of 008D, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 of NETB and PNet ID 2 with no entry becauseadapter 1524-2 is virtual and does not have a second port. In otherwords, adapter 1524-2 is a virtual adapter with a virtual channel 0200in bridging IHS 1508 and may be identified logically by bridging IHS1508 as 06D2. Adapter 1524-2 is an IQD virtual network adapter andcouples to IQD network 1525 on virtual channel 0200. LPAR 1523-1 and1523-2 of bridging IHS 1508 may access adapter 1524-2 to communicate viaIQD network 1525. PNet ID 1 of NETB indicates that a bridging tool 1800may bridge adapter 1524-2 with adapter 1514 to allow LPAR 1523-1 and1523-2 to access adapter 1514 to communicate via NETWORK B 1513.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a bridging information handling system(IHS) 1700 that may be used in the disclosed bridging system. Withrespect to FIG. 11, like numbers indicate like elements. Bridging IHS1700 includes a processor 1705 that may include multiple cores. RNICconverging IHS 1700 processes, transfers, communicates, modifies, storesor otherwise handles information in digital form, analog form or otherform. In one embodiment, bridging IHS 1700 includes a bus 1710, i.e.channel 1710. In another embodiment, bus 1710 may be multiple busses,i.e., multiple channels. Bus 1710 may couple processor 1705 to memory1715 via a memory controller 1720 and memory bus 1725. System memory1715 may also be referred to as main memory. System memory 1715 may be astatic random access memory (SRAM) array or a dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM) array. Processor 1705 may also include local memory suchas L1, L2 and L3 caches.

In one embodiment, a video graphics controller 1730 couples display 1735to bus 1710. In another embodiment, bridging IHS 1700 may operatewithout display 1735 and/or video graphics controller 1730. Nonvolatilestorage 1740, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), CDdrive, DVD drive, or other nonvolatile storage couples to bus 1710 toprovide bridging IHS 1700 with permanent storage of information. Systemmemory 1715 and nonvolatile storage 1740 are both forms of memorystores. In one embodiment, nonvolatile storage 1740 stores a hypervisor1745 (HYPERVISOR) that governs operation of bridging IHS 1700. Inanother embodiment, nonvolatile storage 1740 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of bridging IHS 1700. Inanother embodiment, nonvolatile storage 1740 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of bridging IHS 1700, wherethe operating system includes a hypervisor (not shown).

I/O devices 1750, such as speakers, a keyboard and a pointing device,may couple to bus 1710 via I/O controller 1755 and I/O bus 1760. One ormore expansion busses 1765, i.e. channels 1765, such as USB, IEEE 1394bus, ATA, SATA, PCI, PCIE, DVI, HDMI and other busses, i.e. channels,couple to bus 1710 to facilitate the connection of peripherals anddevices to bridging IHS 1700. Network interface controllers (NICs), forexample, NIC 1770-1, NIC 1770-2, . . . , NIC 1770-L, wherein L is thenumber of NICs, may couple to bus 1710 to enable bridging IHS 1700 toconnect by wire or wirelessly to a network and other informationhandling systems. NIC 1770-1, NIC 1770-2, . . . , NIC 1770-L may also becalled a network communication adapter, network interface adapter,network adapter, network interface or an adapter. NIC 1770-1, NIC1770-2, . . . , NIC 1770-L may take many forms. For example, NIC 1770-1,NIC 1770-2, . . . , NIC 1770-L may take the form of an Ethernet (ETH)adapter, open systems adapter (OSA), RDMA enabled network interfacecontroller (RNIC) or other network communication adapter.

While FIG. 17 shows one IHS that employs processor 1705, the IHS maytake many forms. For example, bridging IHS 1700 may take the form of amainframe, server, central processor complex (CPC), desktop, portable,laptop, notebook, tablet or other form factor computer or dataprocessing system. Bridging IHS 1700 may take other form factors such asa gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portabletelephone device, a communication device or other devices that include aprocessor and memory.

Bridging IHS 1700 includes a bridging tool computer program product 1800on digital media 1775 such as a CD, DVD or other media. For simplicity,the term bridging tool will be used below. Bridging IHS 1700 may storebridging tool 1800 in nonvolatile storage 1740 as bridging tool 1800′.Bridging IHS 1700 may also store hypervisor 1745 (HYPERVISOR) andlogical partition (LPAR) 1780-1, LPAR 1780-2, . . . , LPAR 1780-K,wherein K is the number of LPARs, in nonvolatile storage 1740.

In another embodiment, bridging tool 1800′ may be part of the hypervisor1745 (not shown). In another embodiment, bridging tool 1800′ may be inLPAR 1780-1, LPAR 1780-2, . . . , LPAR 1780-K. In another embodiment,bridging IHS 1700 may store an operating system (not shown) that governsoperation of bridging IHS 1700, where the operating system includes ahypervisor (not shown) and where the operating system includes LPAR1780-1, LPAR 1780-2, . . . , LPAR 1780-K as virtual machines (notshown). When bridging IHS 1700 initializes, the IHS loads hypervisor1745 into system memory 1715 for execution as hypervisor 1745′. BridgingIHS 1700 also loads bridging tool 1800′ into system memory 1715 forexecution as bridging tool 1800″. Bridging IHS 1700 may also load LPAR1780-1, LPAR 1780-2, . . . , LPAR 1780-K into system memory 1715 forexecution as LPAR 1780-1′, LPAR 1780-2′, . . . , LPAR 1780-K′,respectively.

In another embodiment, when bridging IHS 1700 initializes, the IHS mayload an operating system (not shown) into system memory 1715 forexecution. In another embodiment, when bridging IHS 1700 initializes,the IHS may load an operating system (not shown) that includes ahypervisor (not shown) and includes LPAR 1780-1, LPAR 1780-2, . . . ,LPAR 1780-K as virtual machines (not shown) into system memory 1715 forexecution.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of abridging tool 1800 that may be used in the disclosed bridging system.Process flow commences when bridging tool 1800 in bridging IHS 1700initializes, as per block 1805. If HCM tool 600 in HCM IHS 500 does nottransmit HCM database 580, as per decision block 1810, process flowcontinues at decision block 1810. If HCM tool 600 in HCM IHS 500 doestransmit HCM database 580, as per decision block 1810, a hypervisoragent in bridging IHS 1700 may receive HCM database 580, as per block1815. In one embodiment, the hypervisor agent in the bridging IHS 1700is included in hypervisor 1745.

The hypervisor agent may allow hypervisor 1745 to access HCM database580. Hypervisor 1745 may transmit HCM database 580 to bridging tool1800, as per block 1820. Bridging tool 1800 may extract the hardwareconfiguration information of bridging IHS 1700 from the HCM database580, as per block 1825. In one embodiment, the hardware configurationinformation of bridging IHS 1700 from HCM database 580 may include, butis not limited to, on a per adapter basis, machine serial numbers(MSNs), physical identifications (PIDs), logical identifications (LIDs),adapter types, a logical partition (LPAR) access list, a physicalnetwork identification (PNet ID) of the first port of the adapter and aPNet ID of the second port of the adapter. In one embodiment, theadapter type “0087” may be an OSA adapter and the adapter type “008D”may be an internal queued direct (IQD) communication adapter.

In one embodiment, the bridging tool 1800 may share the extractedhardware configuration information of bridging IHS 1700 with hypervisor1745. Hypervisor 1745 may update the hardware configuration of bridgingIHS 1700 with the extracted hardware configuration information ofbridging IHS 1700. In another embodiment, the bridging tool 1800 mayshare the extracted hardware configuration information of bridging IHS1700 with LPARs 1780-1, 1780-2, . . . , 1780-K, where K is the number ofLPARs in bridging IHS 1700. LPARs 1780-1, 1780-2, . . . , 1780-K mayupdate their respective hardware configuration with the extractedhardware configuration information of bridging IHS 1700.

Bridging tool 1800 may sort the extracted hardware configurationinformation by PNet IDs, as per block 1830. For example, the bridgingtool 1800 may list all adapters with the PNet ID of “NETA” first,followed by all adapters with the PNet ID of “NETB”. Bridging tool 1800may further sort the extracted configuration information by adaptertype, as per block 1835. For example, the bridging tool 1800 may listall adapters with the type “0087” and the PNet ID “NETA” first, followedby the adapters with the type “008D” and the PNet ID of “NETA”, furtherfollowed by the adapters with the type “0087” and the PNet ID of “NETB”.

Bridging tool 1800 may determine if any adapters may be bridged, as perdecision block 1840. In one embodiment, bridging tool 1800 may bridgeadapters with the type “008D”, i.e. IQD, with adapters of the type“0087”, i.e. OSA, if the IQD adapter's PNet ID matches the OSA's PNetID. If bridging tool 1800 determines that bridging IHS 1700 containsbridgeable adapters, as per block 1840, bridging tool 1800 may bridgecommunications between IQD adapters and OSAs that have matching PNetIDs, as per block 1845. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14,virtual internal network adapter 1321-7 is of type “008D”, i.e. IQD, andhas a PNet ID of “NETC”. Network adapter 1317 is of type “007”, i.e.OSA, and has a PNet ID of “NETC”.

Bridging tool 1800 may bridge communications between virtual internalnetwork adapter 1321-7 and network adapter 1317. In one embodiment,virtual internal network adapter 1321-7 and bridge port 1327 arecoupled. To bridge communications between virtual internal networkadapter 1321-7 and network adapter 1317, bridging tool 1800 may bridgecommunications from bridge port 1327, through VSWITCH 1330, to networkadapter 1327. In one embodiment, LPAR 1320-7 may then communicate overthe bridge between virtual internal network adapter 1321-7 and networkadapter 1317 to any IHS on NETWORK C 1318, as per block 1850.

Process flow terminates at end block 1855. If bridging tool 1800determines that no adapters on bridging IHS 1700 may be bridged, as perdecision block 1840, process flow terminates at end block 1855.Alternatively, process flow may continue at start block 1805.

IV. Load Balancing System

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosed loadbalancing system 1900 utilizing PNet IDs. Load balancing system 1900 mayutilize network adapter 1901, administrative network 1902 and networkadapter 1903 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 1904.Administered IHS 1904 may also be referred to as load balancing IHS1904. Load balancing system 1900 may utilize network adapter 1901,administrative network 1902 and network adapter 1905 to couple HCM IHS500 to administered IHS 1906. Load balancing system 1900 may utilizenetwork adapter 1901, administrative network 1902 and network adapter1907 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 1908. Load balancingsystem 1900 may utilize network adapter 1901, administrative network1902 and network adapter 1909 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS1910. Administered IHSs 1904, 1906, 1908 and 1910 couple viaadministrative network 1902 to HCM IHS 500 to enable HCM IHS 500 toadminister HCM database 2000 with HCM tool 600 to the administered IHSs.

Load balancing system 1900 may utilize network adapter 1911 and/ornetwork adapter 1912 and/or network adapter 1913 and/or network adapter1914 via NETWORK A 1915 via network adapter 1916 and/or network adapter1917 and/or network adapter 1918 and/or network adapter 1919 to coupleload balancing IHS 1904 to administered IHS 1906. Load balancing system1900 may utilize network adapter 1920 and/or network adapter 1921 and/ornetwork adapter 1922 and/or network adapter 1923 via NETWORK B 1924 vianetwork adapter 1925 and/or network adapter 1926 and/or network adapter1927 and/or network adapter 1928 to couple load balancing IHS 1904 toadministered IHS 1906. Load balancing system 1900 may utilize networkadapter 1929 and/or network adapter 1930 and/or network adapter 1931and/or network adapter 1932 via NETWORK C 1933 via network adapter 1934and/or network adapter 1935 and/or network adapter 1936 and/or networkadapter 1937 to couple load balancing IHS 1904 to administered IHS 1910.

In one embodiment, network adapter 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907 and 1909 maybe Ethernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 1911, 1912, 1916, 1918,1920, 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1934 and 1936 may be open systemadapters (OSAs). Network adapters 1913, 1914, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1923,1926, 1928, 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1937 may be remote direct memory access(RDMA) enabled network adapter controllers (RNICs). In one embodiment,administrative network 1902, NETWORK A 1915, NETWORK B 1924 and NETWORKC 1933 may provide local area network (LAN) communications and/or widearea network (WAN) communications and/or virtual LAN communicationsand/or intranet communications and/or Internet communications tostructures that couple thereto.

Load balancing IHS 1904 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate logical partition (LPAR) 1938-1, LPAR 1938-2, LPAR 1938-3, LPAR1938-4, LPAR 1938-5, LPAR 1938-6 and LPAR 1938-7 in load balancing IHS1904. LPAR 1938-1, LPAR 1938-2 and LPAR 1938-3 may include virtualnetwork adapter 1939-1, virtual network adapter 1939-2 and virtualnetwork adapter 1939-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 1939-1,virtual network adapter 1939-2 and virtual network adapter 1939-3 maycouple to network adapter 1911 and network adapter 1912 via a channel,i.e., a bus. LPAR 1938-4 and LPAR 1938-5 may include virtual networkadapter 1939-4 and virtual network adapter 1939-5, respectively. Virtualnetwork adapter 1939-4 and virtual network adapter 1939-5 may couple tonetwork adapter 1920 and network adapter 1921 via a channel. LPAR 1938-6and LPAR 1938-7 may include virtual network adapter 1939-6 and virtualnetwork adapter 1939-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 1939-6 andvirtual network adapter 1939-7 may couple to network adapter 1929 andnetwork adapter 1930 via a channel.

LPAR 1938-1, LPAR 1938-2 and LPAR 1938-3 may include virtual networkadapter 1940-1, virtual network adapter 1940-2 and virtual networkadapter 1940-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 1940-1, virtualnetwork adapter 1940-2 and virtual network adapter 1940-3 may couple tonetwork adapter 1913 and network adapter 1914 via a channel. LPAR 1938-4and LPAR 1938-5 may include virtual network adapter 1940-4 and virtualnetwork adapter 1940-5, respectively. Virtual network adapter 1940-4 andvirtual network adapter 1940-5 may couple to network adapter 1922 andnetwork adapter 1923 via a channel. LPAR 1938-6 and LPAR 1938-7 mayinclude virtual network adapter 1940-6 and virtual network adapter1940-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 1940-6 and virtual networkadapter 1940-7 may couple to network adapter 1931 and network adapter1932 via a channel.

FIG. 20 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 2000 in the disclosedload balancing system 1900. HCM tool 600 may store the hardwareconfiguration information in HCM database 2000 on a per adapter basis.In one embodiment, for each network adapter in load balancing system1900, HCM tool 600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmostcolumn, the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID),logical identification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR)access list, physical network identification (PNet ID) network adapter.

As shown in HCM database 2000, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 1911 includes MSN of 0000FFA1, PID of 0006, LID of 00F1, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 1911 is located in physical channel 0006in load balancing IHS 1904 and may be identified logically by loadbalancing IHS 1904 as 00F1. Adapter 1911 is a physical OSA networkadapter and couples to NETWORK A 1915 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR1938-1, 1938-2 and 1938-3 of load balancing IHS 1904 may access adapter1911 to communicate via NETWORK A 1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1912 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0007, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 1912 is located in physical channel 0007 in load balancing IHS1904 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 00F5.Adapter 1912 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A1915 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-1, 1938-2 and 1938-3 of loadbalancing IHS 1904 may access adapter 1912 to communicate via NETWORK A1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1913 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0111, LID of 04C0, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 1913 is located in physical channel 0111 in load balancing IHS1904 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 04C0.Adapter 1913 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A1915 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-1, 1938-2 and 1938-3 of loadbalancing IHS 1904 may access adapter 1913 to communicate via NETWORK A1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1914 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0112, LID of 04C4, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 1914 is located in physical channel 0112 in load balancing IHS1904 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 04C4.Adapter 1914 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A1915 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-1, 1938-2 and 1938-3 of loadbalancing IHS 1904 may access adapter 1914 to communicate via NETWORK A1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1920 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0008, LID of 00F9, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1920 is located in physical channel 0008 in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 00F9. Adapter1920 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-4 and 1938-5 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1920 to communicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1921 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0009, LID of 00FC, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1921 is located in physical channel 0009 in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 00FC. Adapter1921 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-4 and 1938-5 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1921 to communicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1922 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0113, LID of 04C8, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1922 is located in physical channel 0113 in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 04C8. Adapter1922 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-4 and 1938-5 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1922 to communicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1923 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0114, LID of 04CB, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1923 is located in physical channel 0114 in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 04CB. Adapter1923 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-4 and 1938-5 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1923 to communicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1929 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 000A, LID of 00FF, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1929 is located in physical channel 000A in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 00FF. Adapter1929 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-6 and 1938-7 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1929 to communicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1930 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 000B, LID of 0102, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1930 is located in physical channel 000B in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 0102. Adapter1930 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-6 and 1938-7 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1930 to communicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1931 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0115, LID of 04CE, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1931 is located in physical channel 0115 in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 04CE. Adapter1931 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-6 and 1938-7 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1931 to communicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1932 includes MSN of0000FFA1, PID of 0116, LID of 04D1, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1932 is located in physical channel 0116 in load balancing IHS 1904 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 1904 as 04D1. Adapter1932 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 1938-6 and 1938-7 of load balancing IHS 1904may access adapter 1932 to communicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1916 includes MSN of00DDA254, PID of 0001, LID of 00A3, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter1916 is located in physical channel 0001 in administered IHS 1906 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1906 as 00A3. Adapter1916 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 1915 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1906 may access adapter 1916 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1917 includes MSN of00DDA254, PID of 0003, LID of 00B1, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter1917 is located in physical channel 0003 in administered IHS 1906 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1906 as 00B1. Adapter1917 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 1915 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1906 may access adapter 1917 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1918 includes MSN of00DDA254, PID of 0002, LID of 00A4, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter1918 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 1906 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1906 as 00A4. Adapter1918 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 1915 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1906 may access adapter 1918 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1919 includes MSN of00DDA254, PID of 0004, LID of 00B2, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter1919 is located in physical channel 0004 in administered IHS 1906 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1906 as 00B2. Adapter1919 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 1915 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1906 may access adapter 1919 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 1915.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1925 includes MSN ofFAF33922, PID of 0023, LID of 00F6, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1925 is located in physical channel 0023 in administered IHS 1908 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1908 as 00F6. Adapter1925 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1908 may access adapter 1925 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1926 includes MSN ofFAF33922, PID of 0032, LID of 00FF, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1926 is located in physical channel 0032 in administered IHS 1908 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1908 as 00FF. Adapter1926 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1908 may access adapter 1926 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1927 includes MSN ofFAF33922, PID of 0024, LID of 00F7, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1927 is located in physical channel 0024 in administered IHS 1908 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1908 as 00F7. Adapter1927 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1908 may access adapter 1927 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1928 includes MSN ofFAF33922, PID of 0033, LID of 0100, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter1928 is located in physical channel 0033 in administered IHS 1908 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1908 as 0100. Adapter1928 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 1924 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1908 may access adapter 1928 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 1924.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1934 includes MSN of363B77A2, PID of 0011, LID of 00C2, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1934 is located in physical channel 0011 in administered IHS 1910 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1910 as 00C2. Adapter1934 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1910 may access adapter 1934 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1935 includes MSN of363B77A2, PID of 0002, LID of 0D01, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1935 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 1910 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1910 as 0D01. Adapter1935 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1910 may access adapter 1935 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1936 includes MSN of363B77A2, PID of 0012, LID of 00C3, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1936 is located in physical channel 0012 in administered IHS 1910 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1910 as 00C3. Adapter1936 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1910 may access adapter 1936 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 1933.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 1937 includes MSN of363B77A2, PID of 0003, LID of 0D02, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter1937 is located in physical channel 0003 in administered IHS 1910 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 1910 as 0D02. Adapter1937 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 1933 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 1910 may access adapter 1937 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 1933.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the disclosed loadbalancing system 2100 utilizing PNet IDs. Load balancing system 2100 mayutilize network adapter 2101, administrative network 2102 and networkadapter 2103 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2104.Administered IHS 2104 may also be referred to as load balancing IHS2104. Load balancing system 2100 may utilize network adapter 2101,administrative network 2102 and network adapter 2105 to couple HCM IHS500 to administered IHS 2106. Load balancing system 2100 may utilizenetwork adapter 2101, administrative network 2102 and network adapter2107 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2108. Administered IHSs2104, 2106 and 2108 couple via administrative network 2102 to HCM IHS500 to enable HCM IHS 500 to administer HCM database 2200 with HCM tool600 to the administered IHSs.

Load balancing system 2100 may utilize network adapter 2109 and/ornetwork adapter 2110 and/or network adapter 2111 and/or network adapter2112 and/or network adapter 2113 and/or network adapter 2114 via NETWORKA 2115 via network adapter 2116 and/or network adapter 2117 and/ornetwork adapter 2118 and/or network adapter 2119 to couple loadbalancing IHS 2104 to administered IHS 2106. Load balancing system 2100may utilize network adapter 2120 and/or network adapter 2121 and/ornetwork adapter 2122 and/or network adapter 2123 and/or network adapter2124 and/or network adapter 2125 via NETWORK B 2126 via network adapter2127 and/or network adapter 2128 and/or network adapter 2129 and/ornetwork adapter 2130 to couple load balancing IHS 2104 to administeredIHS 2106.

In one embodiment, network adapter 2101, 2103, 2105 and 2107 may beEthernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 2109, 2110, 2113, 2116, 2118,2120, 2122, 2123, 2127 and 2128 may be open system adapters (OSAs).Network adapters 2111, 2112, 2114, 2117, 2119, 2121, 2124, 2125, 2129and 2130 may be remote direct memory access (RDMA) enabled networkadapter controllers (RNICs). In one embodiment, administrative network2102, NETWORK A 2115 and NETWORK B 2126 may provide local area network(LAN) communications and/or wide area network (WAN) communicationsand/or virtual LAN communications and/or intranet communications and/orInternet communications to structures that couple thereto.

Load balancing IHS 2104 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate logical partition (LPAR) 2131-1, LPAR 2131-2, LPAR 2131-3, LPAR2131-4 and LPAR 2131-5 in load balancing IHS 2104. LPAR 2131-1, LPAR2131-2 and LPAR 2131-3 may include virtual network adapter 2132-1,virtual network adapter 2132-2 and virtual network adapter 2132-3,respectively. Virtual network adapter 2132-1, virtual network adapter2132-2 and virtual network adapter 2132-3 may couple to network adapter2109, network adapter 2110 and network adapter 2113 via a channel, i.e.,a bus. LPAR 2131-4 and LPAR 2131-5 may include virtual network adapter2132-4 and virtual network adapter 2132-5, respectively. Virtual networkadapter 2132-4 and virtual network adapter 2132-5 may couple to networkadapter 2120, network adapter 2121 and network adapter 2123 via achannel.

LPAR 2131-1, LPAR 2131-2 and LPAR 2131-3 may include virtual networkadapter 2133-1, virtual network adapter 2133-2 and virtual networkadapter 2133-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2133-1, virtualnetwork adapter 2133-2 and virtual network adapter 2133-3 may couple tonetwork adapter 2111, network adapter 2112 and network adapter 2114 viaa channel. LPAR 2131-4 and LPAR 2131-5 may include virtual networkadapter 2133-4 and virtual network adapter 2133-5, respectively. Virtualnetwork adapter 2133-4 and virtual network adapter 2133-5 may couple tonetwork adapter 2121, network adapter 2124 and network adapter 2125 viaa channel.

In one embodiment, administered IHS 2108 may be a load balancing IHS.Administered IHS 2108 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that maycreate LPAR 2134-1 and LPAR 2134-2. LPAR 2134-1 and LPAR 2134-2 mayinclude virtual network adapter 2135-1 and virtual network adapter2135-2, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2135-1 and virtual networkadapter 2135-2 may couple to network adapter 2127 and network adapter2128 via a channel. LPAR 2134-1 and LPAR 2134-2 may include virtualnetwork adapter 2136-1 and virtual network adapter 2136-2, respectively.Virtual network adapter 2136-1 and virtual network adapter 2136-2 maycouple to network adapter 2129 and network adapter 2130 via a channel.

FIG. 22 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 2200 in the disclosedload balancing system 2100. HCM tool 600 may store the hardwareconfiguration information in HCM database 2200 on a per adapter basis.In one embodiment, for each network adapter in load balancing system2100, HCM tool 600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmostcolumn, the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID),logical identification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR)access list, physical network identification (PNet ID) network adapter.

As shown in HCM database 2200, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 2109 includes MSN of 0DC0FFB2, PID of 0001, LID of 00F1, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 2109 is located in physical channel 0001in load balancing IHS 2104 and may be identified logically by loadbalancing IHS 2104 as 00F1. Adapter 2109 is a physical OSA networkadapter and couples to NETWORK A 2115 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR2131-1, 2131-2 and 2131-3 of load balancing IHS 2104 may access adapter2109 to communicate via NETWORK A 2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2110 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0002, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2110 is located in physical channel 0002 in load balancing IHS2104 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 00F5.Adapter 2110 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2115 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-1, 2131-2 and 2131-3 of loadbalancing IHS 2104 may access adapter 2110 to communicate via NETWORK A2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2111 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0111, LID of 0FF1, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2111 is located in physical channel 0111 in load balancing IHS2104 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 0FF1.Adapter 2111 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2115 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-1, 2131-2 and 2131-3 of loadbalancing IHS 2104 may access adapter 2111 to communicate via NETWORK A2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2112 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0112, LID of 0FF5, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2112 is located in physical channel 0112 in load balancing IHS2104 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 0FF5.Adapter 2112 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2115 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-1, 2131-2 and 2131-3 of loadbalancing IHS 2104 may access adapter 2112 to communicate via NETWORK A2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2113 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0003, LID of 00F9, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2113 is located in physical channel 0003 in load balancing IHS2104 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 00F9.Adapter 2113 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2115 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-1, 2131-2 and 2131-3 of loadbalancing IHS 2104 may access adapter 2113 to communicate via NETWORK A2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2114 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0113, LID of 0FF9, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2114 is located in physical channel 0113 in load balancing IHS2104 and may be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 0FF9.Adapter 2114 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2115 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-1, 2131-2 and 2131-3 of loadbalancing IHS 2104 may access adapter 2114 to communicate via NETWORK A2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2120 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0004, LID of 00FD, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2120 is located in physical channel 0004 in load balancing IHS 2104 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 00FD. Adapter2120 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-4 and 2131-5 of load balancing IHS 2104may access adapter 2120 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2121 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0114, LID of 0FFD, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2121 is located in physical channel 0114 in load balancing IHS 2104 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 0FFD. Adapter2121 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-4 and 2131-5 of load balancing IHS 2104may access adapter 2121 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2122 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0005, LID of 0100, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2122 is located in physical channel 0005 in load balancing IHS 2104 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 0100. Adapter2122 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-4 and 2131-5 of load balancing IHS 2104may access adapter 2122 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2123 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0006, LID of 0103, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2123 is located in physical channel 0006 in load balancing IHS 2104 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 0103. Adapter2123 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-4 and 2131-5 of load balancing IHS 2104may access adapter 2123 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2124 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0115, LID of 1000, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2124 is located in physical channel 0115 in load balancing IHS 2104 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 1000. Adapter2124 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-4 and 2131-5 of load balancing IHS 2104may access adapter 2124 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2125 includes MSN of0DC0FFB2, PID of 0116, LID of 1003, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2125 is located in physical channel 0116 in load balancing IHS 2104 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2104 as 1003. Adapter2125 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2131-4 and 2131-5 of load balancing IHS 2104may access adapter 2125 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2116 includes MSN of0000D100, PID of 0033, LID of 0D01, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2116 is located in physical channel 0033 in administered IHS 2106 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2106 as 0D01. Adapter2116 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2115 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2106 may access adapter 2116 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2117 includes MSN of0000D100, PID of 0025, LID of 0D03, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2117 is located in physical channel 0025 in administered IHS 2106 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2106 as 0D03. Adapter2117 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2115 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2106 may access adapter 2117 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2118 includes MSN of0000D100, PID of 0034, LID of 0D02, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2118 is located in physical channel 0034 in administered IHS 2106 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2106 as 0D02. Adapter2118 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2115 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2106 may access adapter 2118 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2119 includes MSN of0000D100, PID of 0026, LID of 0D04, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2119 is located in physical channel 0026 in administered IHS 2106 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2106 as 0D04. Adapter2119 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2115 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2106 may access adapter 2119 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2115.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2127 includes MSN ofFFFFA200, PID of 0011, LID of 000A, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2127 is located in physical channel 0011 in load balancing IHS 2108 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2108 as 000A. Adapter2127 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2134-1 and 2134-2 of load balancing IHS 2108may access adapter 2127 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2128 includes MSN ofFFFFA200, PID of 0012, LID of 000B, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2128 is located in physical channel 0012 in load balancing IHS 2108 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2108 as 000B. Adapter2128 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2134-1 and 2134-2 of load balancing IHS 2108may access adapter 2128 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2129 includes MSN ofFFFFA200, PID of 0021, LID of 0F01, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2129 is located in physical channel 0021 in load balancing IHS 2108 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2108 as 0F01. Adapter2129 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2134-1 and 2134-2 of load balancing IHS 2108may access adapter 2129 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2130 includes MSN ofFFFFA200, PID of 0022, LID of 0F02, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2130 is located in physical channel 0022 in load balancing IHS 2108 andmay be identified logically by load balancing IHS 2108 as 0F02. Adapter2130 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2126 onboth ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2134-1 and 2134-2 of load balancing IHS 2108may access adapter 2130 to communicate via NETWORK B 2126.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a load balancing information handlingsystem (IHS) 2300 that may be used in the disclosed load balancingsystem. With respect to FIG. 11, like numbers indicate like elements.Load balancing IHS 2300 includes a processor 2305 that may includemultiple cores. RNIC converging IHS 2300 processes, transfers,communicates, modifies, stores or otherwise handles information indigital form, analog form or other form. In one embodiment, loadbalancing IHS 2300 includes a bus 2310, i.e. channel 2310. In anotherembodiment, bus 2310 may be multiple busses, i.e., multiple channels.Bus 2310 may couple processor 2305 to memory 2315 via a memorycontroller 2320 and memory bus 2325. System memory 2315 may also bereferred to as main memory. System memory 2315 may be a static randomaccess memory (SRAM) array or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)array. Processor 2305 may also include local memory such as L1, L2 andL3 caches.

In one embodiment, a video graphics controller 2330 couples display 2335to bus 2310. In another embodiment, load balancing IHS 2300 may operatewithout display 2335 and/or video graphics controller 2330. Nonvolatilestorage 2340, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), CDdrive, DVD drive, or other nonvolatile storage couples to bus 2310 toprovide load balancing IHS 2300 with permanent storage of information.System memory 2315 and nonvolatile storage 2340 are both forms of memorystores. In one embodiment, nonvolatile storage 2340 stores a hypervisor2345 (HYPERVISOR) that governs operation of load balancing IHS 2300. Inanother embodiment, nonvolatile storage 2340 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of load balancing IHS 2300. Inanother embodiment, nonvolatile storage 2340 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of load balancing IHS 2300,where the operating system includes a hypervisor (not shown).

I/O devices 2350, such as speakers, a keyboard and a pointing device,may couple to bus 2310 via I/O controller 2355 and I/O bus 2360. One ormore expansion busses 2365, i.e. channels 2365, such as USB, IEEE 1394bus, ATA, SATA, PCI, PCIE, DVI, HDMI and other busses, i.e. channels,couple to bus 2310 to facilitate the connection of peripherals anddevices to load balancing IHS 2300. Network interface controllers(NICs), for example, NIC 2370-1, NIC 2370-2, . . . , NIC 2370-J, whereinJ is the number of NICs, may couple to bus 2310 to enable load balancingIHS 2300 to connect by wire or wirelessly to a network and otherinformation handling systems. NIC 2370-1, NIC 2370-2, . . . , NIC 2370-Jmay also be called a network communication adapter, network interfaceadapter, network adapter, network interface or an adapter. NIC 2370-1,NIC 2370-2, . . . , NIC 2370-J may take many forms. For example, NIC2370-1, NIC 2370-2, . . . , NIC 2370-J may take the form of an Ethernet(ETH) adapter, open systems adapter (OSA), RDMA enabled networkinterface controller (RNIC) or other network communication adapter.

While FIG. 23 shows one IHS that employs processor 2305, the IHS maytake many forms. For example, load balancing IHS 2300 may take the formof a mainframe, server, central processor complex (CPC), desktop,portable, laptop, notebook, tablet or other form factor computer or dataprocessing system. Load balancing IHS 2300 may take other form factorssuch as a gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portabletelephone device, a communication device or other devices that include aprocessor and memory.

Load balancing IHS 2300 includes a load balancing tool computer programproduct 2400 on digital media 2375 such as a CD, DVD or other media. Forsimplicity, the term load balancing tool will be used below. Loadbalancing IHS 2300 may store load balancing tool 2400 in nonvolatilestorage 2340 as load balancing tool 2400′. Load balancing IHS 2300 mayalso store hypervisor 2345 (HYPERVISOR) and logical partition (LPAR)2380-1, LPAR 2380-2, . . . , LPAR 2380-H, wherein H is the number ofLPARs, in nonvolatile storage 2340.

In another embodiment, load balancing tool 2400′ may be part of thehypervisor 2345 (not shown). In another embodiment, load balancing tool2400′ may be in LPAR 2380-1, LPAR 2380-2, . . . , LPAR 2380-H. Inanother embodiment, load balancing IHS 2300 may store an operatingsystem (not shown) that governs operation of load balancing IHS 2300,where the operating system includes a hypervisor (not shown) and wherethe operating system includes LPAR 2380-1, LPAR 2380-2, . . . , LPAR2380-H as virtual machines (not shown). When load balancing IHS 2300initializes, the IHS loads hypervisor 2345 into system memory 2315 forexecution as hypervisor 2345′. Load balancing IHS 2300 also loads loadbalancing tool 2400′ into system memory 2315 for execution as loadbalancing tool 2400″. Load balancing IHS 2300 may also load LPAR 2380-1,LPAR 2380-2, . . . , LPAR 2380-H into system memory 2315 for executionas LPAR 2380-1′, LPAR 2380-2′, . . . , LPAR 2380-H′, respectively.

In another embodiment, when load balancing IHS 2300 initializes, the IHSmay load an operating system (not shown) into system memory 2315 forexecution. In another embodiment, when load balancing IHS 2300initializes, the IHS may load an operating system (not shown) thatincludes a hypervisor (not shown) and includes LPAR 2380-1, LPAR 2380-2,. . . , LPAR 2380-H as virtual machines (not shown) into system memory2315 for execution.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of aload balancing tool 2400 that may be used in the disclosed loadbalancing system. Process flow commences when load balancing tool 2400in load balancing IHS 2300 initializes, as per block 2405. If HCM tool600 in HCM IHS 500 does transmit HCM database 580, as per decision block2410, a hypervisor agent in load balancing IHS 2300 may receive HCMdatabase 580, as per block 2415. In one embodiment, the hypervisor agentin the load balancing IHS 2300 is included in hypervisor 2345.

The hypervisor agent may allow hypervisor 2345 to access HCM database580. Hypervisor 2345 may transmit HCM database 580 to load balancingtool 2400, as per block 2420. Load balancing tool 2400 may extract thehardware configuration information of load balancing IHS 2300 from theHCM database 580, as per block 2425. In one embodiment, the hardwareconfiguration information of load balancing IHS 2300 from HCM database580 may include, but is not limited to, on a per adapter basis, machineserial numbers (MSNs), physical identifications (PIDs), logicalidentifications (LIDs), adapter types, a logical partition (LPAR) accesslist, a physical network identification (PNet ID) of the first port ofthe adapter and a PNet ID of the second port of the adapter. In oneembodiment, the adapter type “0087” may be an OSA network adapter andthe adapter type “0008” may be an RNIC network adapter.

In one embodiment, the load balancing tool 2400 may share the extractedhardware configuration information of load balancing IHS 2300 withhypervisor 2345. Hypervisor 2345 may update the hardware configurationof load balancing IHS 2300 with the extracted hardware configurationinformation of load balancing IHS 2300. In another embodiment, the loadbalancing tool 2400 may share the extracted hardware configurationinformation of load balancing IHS 2300 with LPARs 2380-1, 2380-2, . . ., 2380-H, where H is the number of LPARs in load balancing IHS 2300.LPARs 2380-1, 2380-2, . . . , 2380-H may update their respectivehardware configuration with the extracted hardware configurationinformation of load balancing IHS 2300.

Load balancing tool 2400 may sort the extracted hardware configurationinformation by PNet IDs, as per block 2430. For example, the loadbalancing tool 2400 may list all adapters with the PNet ID of “NETA”first, followed by all adapters with the PNet ID of “NETB”. Loadbalancing tool 2400 may further sort the extracted configurationinformation by adapter type, as per block 2435.

Load balancing tool 2400 may group adapters by adapter type on a PNet IDbasis, as per block 2440. For example, the load balancing tool 2400 maygroup all adapters with the type “0087” and the PNet ID “NETA” first,followed by the adapters with the type “0008” and the PNet ID of “NETA”,further followed by the adapters with the type “0087” and the PNet ID of“NETB”. Referring back to decision block 2410, if HCM tool 600 in HCMIHS 500 does not transmit HCM database 580, as per block 2410, processflow continues at decision block 2445.

Load balancing tool 2400 may decide if the adapter loads on loadbalancing IHS 2300 are balanced, as per decision block 2445. If theadapter loads are not balanced, load balancing tool 2400 may balance theloads between like adapters with matching PNet IDs, as per block 2450.For example, OSA network adapter 1911 and OSA network adapter 1912 mayboth have a PNet ID of “NETA”. LPAR 1938-1, 1938-2, 1938-3 may accessOSA network adapter 1911 and 1912. In one embodiment, LPAR 1938-1,1938-2 and 1938-3 may be utilizing OSA network adapter 1911 forcommunication to NETWORK A 1915. Load balancing tool 2400 may balancethe load of LPAR 1938-1, 1938-2 and 1938-3 through OSA network adapter1911 by denying LPAR 1938-2 and LPAR 1938-3 access to OSA adapter 1911.In response, LPAR 1938-2 and LPAR 1938-3 may utilize OSA adapter 1912for communication to NETWORK A 1915, thereby balancing the load betweenOSA network adapter 1911 and 1912. Process flow continues at block 2455.

If load balancing tool 2400 determines that the adapter load is inbalancer, as per decision block 2445, process flow continues at block2455. Load balancing tool 2400 may decide if an adapter on loadbalancing IHS 2300 has failed, as per decision block 2455. If loadbalancing tool 2400 determines that an adapter has not failed, as perdecision block 2455, process flow continues at decision block 2410. Ifload balancing tool 2400 determines that an adapter on load balancingIHS 2300 has failed, as per decision block 2455, load balancing tool2400 may failover the adapter to a like adapter with matching PNet IDs,as per block 2460.

For example, OSA network adapter 1911 and OSA network adapter 1912 mayboth have a PNet ID of “NETA”. LPAR 1938-1, 1938-2, 1938-3 may accessOSA network adapter 1911 and 1912. In one embodiment, LPAR 1938-1,1938-2 and 1938-3 may be utilizing OSA network adapter 1911 forcommunication to NETWORK A 1915. Load balancing tool 2400 may determinethat OSA adapter 1911 is experiencing failure. Load balancing tool 2400may failover OSA adapter 1911 to OSA adapter 1912 by denying LPAR1938-1, 1938-2 and 1938-3 access to network adapter 1911. In response,LPAR 1938-1, LPAR 1938-2 and LPAR 1938-3 may utilize OSA adapter 1912for communication to NETWORK A 1915, thereby the communicationsutilizing OSA network adapter 1911 failover to OSA network adapter 1912.Process flow terminates at end block 2465. Alternatively, process flowmay continue at start block 2405.

V. Privileged Network Access System

FIGS. 25A and 25B are block diagrams showing one embodiment of thedisclosed privileged network access (PNA) system 2500 utilizing PNetIDs. PNA system 2500 may utilize network adapter 2501, administrativenetwork 2502 and network adapter 2503 to couple HCM IHS 500 toadministered IHS 2504. Administered IHS 2504 may also be referred to asPNA IHS 2504. PNA system 2500 may utilize network adapter 2501,administrative network 2502 and network adapter 2505 to couple HCM IHS500 to privileged network access management (PNAM) IHS 3200. PNA system2500 may utilize network adapter 2501, administrative network 2502 andnetwork adapter 2506 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2507. PNAsystem 2500 may utilize network adapter 2501, administrative network2502 and network adapter 2508 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS2509. PNA system 2500 may utilize network adapter 2501, administrativenetwork 2502 and network adapter 2510 to couple HCM IHS 500 toadministered IHS 2511. Administered IHSs 2504, 2507, 2509 and 2511couple via administrative network 2502 to HCM IHS 500 to enable HCM IHS500 to administer HCM database 2600 with HCM tool 600 to theadministered IHSs. Administered IHSs 2504, 2507, 2509 and 2511 couplevia administrative network 2502 to PNAM IHS 3200 to enable PNAM IHS 3200to administer PNAM database 2700 with PNAM tool 3400 to the administeredIHSs.

PNA system 2500 may utilize network adapter 2512 and/or network adapter2513 via NETWORK A 2514 via network adapter 2515 and/or network adapter2516 to couple PNA IHS 2504 to administered IHS 2507. PNA system 2500may utilize network adapter 2517 and/or network adapter 2518 via NETWORKB 2519 via network adapter 2520 and/or network adapter 2521 to couplePNA IHS 2504 to administered IHS 2509. PNA system 2500 may utilizenetwork adapter 2522 and/or network adapter 2523 via NETWORK C 2524 vianetwork adapter 2525 and/or network adapter 2526 to couple PNA IHS 2504to administered IHS 2509. PNA system 2500 may utilize network adapter2522 and/or network adapter 2523 via NETWORK C 2524 via network adapter2527 and/or network adapter 2528 to couple PNA IHS 2504 to administeredIHS 2511.

In one embodiment, network adapters 2501, 2503, 2505, 2506, 2508 and2510 may be Ethernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 2512, 2515, 2517,2520, 2522, 2525 and 2527 may be open system adapters (OSAs). Networkadapters 2513, 2516, 2518, 2521, 2523, 2526 and 2528 may be remotedirect memory access (RDMA) enabled network adapter controllers (RNICs).In one embodiment, administrative network 2502, NETWORK A 2514, NETWORKB 2519 and NETWORK C 2524 may provide local area network (LAN)communications and/or wide area network (WAN) communications and/orvirtual LAN communications and/or intranet communications and/orInternet communications to structures that couple thereto.

PNA IHS 2504 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that may createlogical partition (LPAR) 2529-1, LPAR 2529-2, LPAR 2529-3, LPAR 2529-4,LPAR 2529-5, LPAR 2529-6 and LPAR 2529-7 in PNA IHS 2504. LPAR 2529-1,LPAR 2529-2 and LPAR 2529-3 may include virtual network adapter 2530-1,virtual network adapter 2530-2 and virtual network adapter 2530-3,respectively. Virtual network adapter 2530-1, virtual network adapter2530-2 and virtual network adapter 2530-3 may couple to network adapter2512 via a channel, i.e., a bus. LPAR 2529-4 and LPAR 2529-5 may includevirtual network adapter 2530-4 and virtual network adapter 2530-5,respectively. Virtual network adapter 2530-4 and virtual network adapter2530-5 may couple to network adapter 2517 via a channel. LPAR 2529-6 andLPAR 2529-7 may include virtual network adapter 2530-6 and virtualnetwork adapter 2530-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2530-6 andvirtual network adapter 2530-7 may couple to network adapter 2522 via achannel.

LPAR 2529-1, LPAR 2529-2 and LPAR 2529-3 may include virtual networkadapter 2531-1, virtual network adapter 2531-2 and virtual networkadapter 2531-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2531-1, virtualnetwork adapter 2531-2 and virtual network adapter 2531-3 may couple tonetwork adapter 2513 via a channel. LPAR 2529-4 and LPAR 2529-5 mayinclude virtual network adapter 2531-4 and virtual network adapter2531-5, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2531-4 and virtual networkadapter 2531-5 may couple to network adapter 2518 via a channel. LPAR2529-6 and LPAR 2529-7 may include virtual network adapter 2531-6 andvirtual network adapter 2531-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter2531-6 and virtual network adapter 2531-7 may couple to network adapter2523 via a channel.

FIG. 26 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 2600 in the disclosedprivileged network access (PNA) system 2500. HCM tool 600 may store thehardware configuration information in HCM database 2600 on a per adapterbasis. In one embodiment, for each network adapter in PNA system 2500,HCM tool 600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmostcolumn, the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID),logical identification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR)access list, physical network identification (PNet ID) network adapter.

As shown in HCM database 2600, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 2512 includes MSN of 0CCC0AB2, PID of 0001, LID of 00F1, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 2512 is located in physical channel 0001in PNA IHS 2504 and may be identified logically by PNA IHS 2504 as 00F1.Adapter 2512 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2514 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2529-1, 2529-2 and 2529-3 of PNA IHS2504 may access adapter 2512 to communicate via NETWORK A 2514.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2513 includes MSN of0CCC0AB2, PID of 0111, LID of 00A1, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2513 is located in physical channel 0111 in PNA IHS 2504 and maybe identified logically by PNA IHS 2504 as 00A1. Adapter 2513 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2514 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 2529-1, 2529-2 and 2529-3 of PNA IHS 2504 may accessadapter 2513 to communicate via NETWORK A 2514.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2517 includes MSN of0CCC0AB2, PID of 0002, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2517 is located in physical channel 0002 in PNA IHS 2504 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2504 as 00F5. Adapter 2517 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2519 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2529-4 and 2529-5 of PNA IHS 2504 may access adapter 2517 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2519.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2518 includes MSN of0CCC0AB2, PID of 0112, LID of 00A5, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2518 is located in physical channel 0112 in PNA IHS 2504 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2504 as 00A5. Adapter 2518 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2519 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2529-4 and 2529-5 of PNA IHS 2504 may access adapter 2518 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2519.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2522 includes MSN of0CCC0AB2, PID of 0003, LID of 00F8, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2522 is located in physical channel 0003 in PNA IHS 2504 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2504 as 00F8. Adapter 2522 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2524 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2529-6 and 2529-7 of PNA IHS 2504 may access adapter 2522 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2524.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2523 includes MSN of0CCC0AB2, PID of 0113, LID of 00A8, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2523 is located in physical channel 0113 in PNA IHS 2504 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2504 as 00A8. Adapter 2523 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2524 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2529-6 and 2529-7 of PNA IHS 2504 may access adapter 2523 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2524.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2515 includes MSN ofDFA22601, PID of 0001, LID of 00F4, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2515 is located in physical channel 0001 in administered IHS 2507 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2507 as 00F4. Adapter2515 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2514 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2507 may access adapter 2515 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2514.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2516 includes MSN ofDFA22601, PID of 0002, LID of 00A4, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2516 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 2507 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2507 as 00A4. Adapter2516 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2514 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2507 may access adapter 2516 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2514.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2520 includes MSN of33300FB8, PID of 0001, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2520 is located in physical channel 0001 in administered IHS 2509 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2509 as 00F5. Adapter2520 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2519 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2509 may access adapter 2520 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2519.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2521 includes MSN of33300FB8, PID of 0011, LID of 00F6, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2521 is located in physical channel 0011 in administered IHS 2509 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2509 as 00F6. Adapter2521 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2519 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2509 may access adapter 2521 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2519.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2525 includes MSN of33300FB8, PID of 0002, LID of 00A5, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2525 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 2509 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2509 as 00A5. Adapter2525 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2524 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2509 may access adapter 2525 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2524.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2526 includes MSN of33300FB8, PID of 0012, LID of 00A6, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2526 is located in physical channel 0012 in administered IHS 2509 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2509 as 00A6. Adapter2526 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2524 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2509 may access adapter 2526 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2524.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2527 includes MSN of0000FC32, PID of 0031, LID of 0D01, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2527 is located in physical channel 0031 in administered IHS 2511 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2511 as 0D01. Adapter2527 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2524 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2511 may access adapter 2527 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2524.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2528 includes MSN of0000FC32, PID of 0033, LID of 0D03, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2528 is located in physical channel 0033 in administered IHS 2511 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2511 as 0D03. Adapter2528 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2524 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2511 may access adapter 2528 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2524.

FIG. 27 depicts one embodiment of privileged network access management(PNAM) database 2700 in the disclosed PNA system 2500. PNAM tool 3400may store the privileged network access information in PNAM database2700 on a per PNet ID, per IHS basis. In one embodiment, for eachnetwork adapter in PNA system 2500, PNAM tool 3400 may store, from theleftmost column to the rightmost column, the physical networkidentification (PNet ID), the machine serial number (MSN) and thelogical partition (LPAR) access list.

As shown in PNAM database 2700, the privileged network accessinformation in the first row of PNAM database 2700 may include a PNet IDof NETB, MSN of 0CCC0AB2 and LPAR access list of 04 and 05. In otherwords, NETWORK B 2519 is a privileged network. A PNA tool 3300 may grantLPARs 2529-4 and 2529-5 in PNA IHS 2504 access to privileged NETWORK B2519.

The privileged network access information in the second row of PNAMdatabase 2700 may include a PNet ID of NETB, MSN of 33300FB8 and LPARaccess list with no entries. In other words, NETWORK B 2519 is aprivileged network. In one embodiment, a PNA tool 3300 may grantadministered IHS 2509 access to privileged NETWORK B 2519.

The privileged network access information in the third row of PNAMdatabase 2700 may include a PNet ID of NETC, MSN of 0CCC0AB2 and LPARaccess list of 07. In other words, NETWORK C 2524 is a privilegednetwork. A PNA tool 3300 may grant LPAR 2529-7 in PNA IHS 2504 access toprivileged NETWORK C 2524. A PNA tool 330 may deny LPAR 2529-6 in PNAIHS 2504 access to privileged NETWORK C 2524, even though LPAR 2529-6 iscoupled to NETWORK C 2524 via network adapters 2522 and 2523.

The privileged network access information in the fourth row of PNAMdatabase 2700 may include a PNet ID of NETC, MSN of 33300FB8 and LPARaccess list with no entries. In other words, NETWORK C 2524 is aprivileged network. In one embodiment, a PNA tool 3300 may grantadministered IHS 2509 access to privileged NETWORK C 2524.

The privileged network access information in the fifth row of PNAMdatabase 2700 may include a PNet ID of NETC, MSN of 0000FC32 and LPARaccess list with no entries. In other words, NETWORK C 2524 is aprivileged network. In one embodiment, a PNA tool 3300 may grantadministered IHS 2511 access to privileged NETWORK C 2524.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are block diagrams showing one embodiment of thedisclosed PNA system 2800 utilizing PNet IDs. PNA system 2800 mayutilize network adapter 2801, administrative network 2802 and networkadapter 2803 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2804.Administered IHS 2804 may also be referred to as PNA IHS 2804. PNAsystem 2800 may utilize network adapter 2801, administrative network2802 and network adapter 2805 to couple HCM IHS 500 to privilegednetwork access management (PNAM) IHS 3200. PNA system 2800 may utilizenetwork adapter 2801, administrative network 2802 and network adapter2806 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2807. PNA system 2800 mayutilize network adapter 2801, administrative network 2802 and networkadapter 2808 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2809. PNA system2800 may utilize network adapter 2801, administrative network 2802 andnetwork adapter 2810 to couple HCM IHS 500 to administered IHS 2811.Administered IHSs 2804, 2807, 2809 and 2811 couple via administrativenetwork 2802 to HCM IHS 500 to enable HCM IHS 500 to administer HCMdatabase 2900 with HCM tool 600 to the administered IHSs. AdministeredIHSs 2804, 2807, 2809 and 2811 couple via administrative network 2802 toPNAM IHS 3200 to enable PNAM IHS 3200 to administer PNAM database 3000with PNAM tool 3400 to the administered IHSs.

PNA system 2800 may utilize network adapter 2812 and/or network adapter2813 and/or network adapter 2814 and/or network adapter 2815 via NETWORKA 2816 via network adapter 2817 and/or network adapter 2818 to couplePNA IHS 2804 to administered IHS 2807. PNA system 2800 may utilizenetwork adapter 2819 and/or network adapter 2820 and/or network adapter2821 and/or network adapter 2822 via NETWORK B 2823 via network adapter2824 and/or network adapter 2825 to couple PNA IHS 2804 to administeredIHS 2807. PNA system 2800 may utilize network adapter 2819 and/ornetwork adapter 2820 and/or network adapter 2821 and/or network adapter2822 via NETWORK B 2823 via network adapter 2826 and/or network adapter2827 and/or network adapter 2828 and/or network adapter 2829 to couplePNA IHS 2804 to administered IHS 2809. PNA system 2800 may utilizenetwork adapter 2830 and/or network adapter 2831 and/or network adapter2832 and/or network adapter 2833 via NETWORK C 2834 via network adapter2835 and/or network adapter 2836 and/or network adapter 2837 and/ornetwork adapter 2838 to couple PNA IHS 2804 to administered IHS 2811.

In one embodiment, network adapters 2801, 2803, 2805, 2806, 2808 and2810 may be Ethernet (ETH) adapters. Network adapters 2812, 2813, 2817,2819, 2820, 2824, 2826, 2828, 2830, 2831, 2835 and 2836 may be opensystem adapters (OSAs). Network adapters 2814, 2815, 2818, 2821, 2822,2824, 2827, 2829, 2832, 2833, 2837 and 2838 may be remote direct memoryaccess (RDMA) enabled network adapter controllers (RNICs). In oneembodiment, administrative network 2802, NETWORK A 2816, NETWORK B 2823and NETWORK C 2834 may provide local area network (LAN) communicationsand/or wide area network (WAN) communications and/or virtual LANcommunications and/or intranet communications and/or Internetcommunications to structures that couple thereto.

PNA IHS 2804 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that may createlogical partition (LPAR) 2839-1, LPAR 2839-2, LPAR 2839-3, LPAR 2839-4,LPAR 2839-5, LPAR 2839-6 and LPAR 2839-7 in PNA IHS 2804. LPAR 2839-1,LPAR 2839-2 and LPAR 2839-3 may include virtual network adapter 2840-1,virtual network adapter 2840-2 and virtual network adapter 2840-3,respectively. Virtual network adapter 2840-1, virtual network adapter2840-2 and virtual network adapter 2840-3 may couple to network adapter2812 and network adapter 2813 via a channel, i.e., a bus. LPAR 2839-4and LPAR 2839-5 may include virtual network adapter 2840-4 and virtualnetwork adapter 2840-5, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2840-4 andvirtual network adapter 2840-5 may couple to network adapter 2819 andnetwork adapter 2820 via a channel. LPAR 2839-6 and LPAR 2839-7 mayinclude virtual network adapter 2840-6 and virtual network adapter2840-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2840-6 and virtual networkadapter 2840-7 may couple to network adapter 2830 and network adapter2831 via a channel.

LPAR 2839-1, LPAR 2839-2 and LPAR 2839-3 may include virtual networkadapter 2841-1, virtual network adapter 2841-2 and virtual networkadapter 2841-3, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2841-1, virtualnetwork adapter 2841-2 and virtual network adapter 2841-3 may couple tonetwork adapter 2814 and network adapter 2815 via a channel. LPAR 2839-4and LPAR 2839-5 may include virtual network adapter 2841-4 and virtualnetwork adapter 2841-5, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2841-4 andvirtual network adapter 2841-5 may couple to network adapter 2821 andnetwork adapter 2822 via a channel. LPAR 2839-6 and LPAR 2839-7 mayinclude virtual network adapter 2841-6 and virtual network adapter2841-7, respectively. Virtual network adapter 2841-6 and virtual networkadapter 2841-7 may couple to network adapter 2832 and network adapter2833 via a channel.

In one embodiment, administered IHS 2811 may be a PNA IHS. AdministeredIHS 2811 may include a hypervisor (not shown) that may create LPAR2842-1 and LPAR 2842-2. LPAR 2842-1 and LPAR 2842-2 may include virtualnetwork adapter 2843-1 and virtual network adapter 2843-2, respectively.Virtual network adapter 2843-1 and virtual network adapter 2843-2 maycouple to network adapter 2835 and network adapter 2836 via a channel.LPAR 2842-1 and LPAR 2842-2 may include virtual network adapter 2844-1and virtual network adapter 2844-2, respectively. Virtual networkadapter 2844-1 and virtual network adapter 2844-2 may couple to networkadapter 2837 and network adapter 2838 via a channel.

FIG. 29 depicts one embodiment of HCM database 2900 in the disclosedprivileged network access (PNA) system 2800. HCM tool 600 may store thehardware configuration information in HCM database 2900 on a per adapterbasis. In one embodiment, for each network adapter in PNA system 2800,HCM tool 600 may store, from the leftmost column to the rightmostcolumn, the machine serial number (MSN), physical identification (PID),logical identification (LID), adapter type, logical partition (LPAR)access list, physical network identification (PNet ID) network adapter.

As shown in HCM database 2900, the hardware configuration information ofadapter 2812 includes MSN of 000AFA11, PID of 0001, LID of 00F1, type of0087, LPAR access list of 01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 ofNETA. In other words, adapter 2812 is located in physical channel 0001in PNA IHS 2804 and may be identified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00F1.Adapter 2812 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A2816 on both ports 1 and 2. LPAR 2839-1, 2839-2 and 2839-3 of PNA IHS2804 may access adapter 2812 to communicate via NETWORK A 2816.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2813 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0002, LID of 00F5, type of 0087, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2813 is located in physical channel 0002 in PNA IHS 2804 and maybe identified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00F5. Adapter 2813 is aphysical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2816 on both ports1 and 2. LPAR 2839-1, 2839-2 and 2839-3 of PNA IHS 2804 may accessadapter 2813 to communicate via NETWORK A 2816.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2814 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0011, LID of 00A1, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2814 is located in physical channel 0011 in PNA IHS 2804 and maybe identified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00A1. Adapter 2814 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2816 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 2839-1, 2839-2 and 2839-3 of PNA IHS 2804 may accessadapter 2814 to communicate via NETWORK A 2816.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2815 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0012, LID of 00A5, type of 0008, LPAR access list of01, 02 and 03, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words,adapter 2815 is located in physical channel 0012 in PNA IHS 2804 and maybe identified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00A5. Adapter 2815 is aphysical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2816 on bothports 1 and 2. LPAR 2839-1, 2839-2 and 2839-3 of PNA IHS 2804 may accessadapter 2815 to communicate via NETWORK A 2816.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2819 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0003, LID of 00F9, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2819 is located in physical channel 0003 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00F9. Adapter 2819 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2839-4 and 2839-5 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2819 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2820 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0004, LID of 00FC, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2820 is located in physical channel 0004 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00FC. Adapter 2820 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2839-4 and 2839-5 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2820 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2821 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0013, LID of 00A9, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2821 is located in physical channel 0013 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00A9. Adapter 2821 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2839-4 and 2839-5 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2821 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2822 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0014, LID of 00AC, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 04and 05, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2822 is located in physical channel 0014 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00AC. Adapter 2822 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2839-4 and 2839-5 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2822 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2830 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0005, LID of 00FF, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2830 is located in physical channel 0005 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00FF. Adapter 2830 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2839-6 and 2839-7 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2830 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2831 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0006, LID of 0102, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2831 is located in physical channel 0006 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 0102. Adapter 2831 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2839-6 and 2839-7 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2831 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2832 includes MSN of000AFA11, PID of 0015, LID of 00AF, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2832 is located in physical channel 0015 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00AF. Adapter 2832 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2839-6 and 2839-7 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2832 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2833 includes MSN of000B2A11, PID of 0016, LID of 00B2, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 06and 07, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2833 is located in physical channel 0016 in PNA IHS 2804 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2804 as 00B2. Adapter 2833 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2839-6 and 2839-7 of PNA IHS 2804 may access adapter 2833 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2817 includes MSN of0000FC32, PID of 0001, LID of 0D01, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2817 is located in physical channel 0001 in administered IHS 2807 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2807 as 0D01. Adapter2817 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2816 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2807 may access adapter 2817 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2816.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2818 includes MSN of0000FC32, PID of 0021, LID of 0D03, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETA. In other words, adapter2818 is located in physical channel 0021 in administered IHS 2807 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2807 as 0D03. Adapter2818 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK A 2816 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2807 may access adapter 2818 tocommunicate via NETWORK A 2816.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2824 includes MSN of0000FC32, PID of 0002, LID of 0D02, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2824 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 2807 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2807 as 0D02. Adapter2824 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2807 may access adapter 2824 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2825 includes MSN of0000FC32, PID of 0022, LID of 0D04, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2825 is located in physical channel 0022 in administered IHS 2807 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2807 as 0D04. Adapter2825 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2807 may access adapter 2825 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2826 includes MSN ofDDDD00AB, PID of 0001, LID of 0001, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2826 is located in physical channel 0001 in administered IHS 2809 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2809 as 0001. Adapter2826 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2809 may access adapter 2826 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2827 includes MSN ofDDDD00AB, PID of 0011, LID of 0003, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2827 is located in physical channel 0011 in administered IHS 2809 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2809 as 0003. Adapter2827 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2809 may access adapter 2827 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2828 includes MSN ofDDDD00AB, PID of 0002, LID of 0002, type of 0087, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2828 is located in physical channel 0002 in administered IHS 2809 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2809 as 0002. Adapter2828 is a physical OSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2809 may access adapter 2828 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2829 includes MSN ofDDDD00AB, PID of 0022, LID of 0004, type of 0008, LPAR access list withno entries, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETB. In other words, adapter2829 is located in physical channel 0022 in administered IHS 2809 andmay be identified logically by administered IHS 2809 as 0004. Adapter2829 is a physical RNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK B 2823 onboth ports 1 and 2. Administered IHS 2809 may access adapter 2829 tocommunicate via NETWORK B 2823.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2835 includes MSN ofACA000F1, PID of 0001, LID of 0081, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2835 is located in physical channel 0001 in PNA IHS 2811 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2811 as 0061. Adapter 2835 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2842-1 and 2842-2 of PNA IHS 2811 may access adapter 2835 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2836 includes MSN ofACA000F1, PID of 0002, LID of 00B4, type of 0087, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2836 is located in physical channel 0002 in PNA IHS 2811 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2811 as 00B4. Adapter 2836 is a physicalOSA network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and 2.LPAR 2842-1 and 2842-2 of PNA IHS 2811 may access adapter 2836 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2837 includes MSN ofACA000F1, PID of 0021, LID of 00C1, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2837 is located in physical channel 0021 in PNA IHS 2811 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2811 as 00C1. Adapter 2837 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2842-1 and 2842-2 of PNA IHS 2811 may access adapter 2837 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

The hardware configuration information of adapter 2838 includes MSN ofACA000F1, PID of 0022, LID of 00C4, type of 0008, LPAR access list of 01and 02, and PNet ID 1 and PNet ID 2 of NETC. In other words, adapter2838 is located in physical channel 0022 in PNA IHS 2811 and may beidentified logically by PNA IHS 2811 as 00C4. Adapter 2838 is a physicalRNIC network adapter and couples to NETWORK C 2834 on both ports 1 and2. LPAR 2842-1 and 2842-2 of PNA IHS 2811 may access adapter 2838 tocommunicate via NETWORK C 2834.

FIG. 30 depicts one embodiment of privileged network access management(PNAM) database 3000 in the disclosed PNA system 2800. PNAM tool 3400may store the privileged network access information in PNAM database2900 on a per PNet ID, per IHS basis. In one embodiment, for eachnetwork adapter in PNA system 2800, PNAM tool 3400 may store, from theleftmost column to the rightmost column, the physical networkidentification (PNet ID), the machine serial number (MSN) and thelogical partition (LPAR) access list.

As shown in PNAM database 3000, the privileged network accessinformation in the first row of PNAM database 3000 may include a PNet IDof NETB, MSN of 000AFA11 and LPAR access list of 04 and 05. In otherwords, NETWORK B 2823 is a privileged network. PNA tool 3300 may grantLPARs 2839-4 and 2839-5 in PNA IHS 2804 access to privileged NETWORK B2823.

The privileged network access information in the second row of PNAMdatabase 3000 may include a PNet ID of NETB, MSN of 0000FC32 and LPARaccess list with no entries. In other words, NETWORK B 2823 is aprivileged network. In one embodiment, PNA tool 3300 may grantadministered IHS 2807 access to privileged NETWORK B 2823.

The privileged network access information in the third row of PNAMdatabase 3000 may include a PNet ID of NETB, MSN of DDDD00AB and LPARaccess list with no entries. In other words, NETWORK B 2823 is aprivileged network. In one embodiment, PNA tool 3300 may grantadministered IHS 2809 access to privileged NETWORK B 2823.

The privileged network access information in the fourth row of PNAMdatabase 3000 may include a PNet ID of NETC, MSN of 000AFA11 and LPARaccess list of 07. In other words, NETWORK C 2823 is a privilegednetwork. PNA tool 3300 may grant LPAR 2839-7 in PNA IHS 2804 access toprivileged NETWORK C 2834. PNA tool 330 may deny LPAR 2839-6 in PNA IHS2804 access to privileged NETWORK C 2834, even though LPAR 2839-6 iscoupled to NETWORK C 2834 via network adapters 2830, 2831, 2832 and2833.

The privileged network access information in the fifth row of PNAMdatabase 3000 may include a PNet ID of NETC, MSN of ACA000F1 and LPARaccess list of 02. In other words, NETWORK C 2823 is a privilegednetwork. PNA tool 3300 may grant LPAR 2842-2 in PNA IHS 2811 access toprivileged NETWORK C 2834. PNA tool 330 may deny LPAR 2842-1 in PNA IHS2811 access to privileged NETWORK C 2834, even though LPAR 2842-1 iscoupled to NETWORK C 2834 via network adapters 2835, 2836, 2837 and2838.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a privileged network access (PNA)information handling system (IHS) 3100 that may be used in the disclosedPNA system. With respect to FIG. 11, like numbers indicate likeelements. PNA IHS 3100 includes a processor 3105 that may includemultiple cores. RNIC converging IHS 3100 processes, transfers,communicates, modifies, stores or otherwise handles information indigital form, analog form or other form. In one embodiment, PNA IHS 3100includes a bus 3110, i.e. channel 3110. In another embodiment, bus 3110may be multiple busses, i.e., multiple channels. Bus 3110 may coupleprocessor 3105 to memory 3115 via a memory controller 3120 and memorybus 3125. System memory 3115 may also be referred to as main memory.System memory 3115 may be a static random access memory (SRAM) array ora dynamic random access memory (DRAM) array. Processor 3105 may alsoinclude local memory such as L1, L2 and L3 caches.

In one embodiment, a video graphics controller 3130 couples display 3135to bus 3110. In another embodiment, PNA IHS 3100 may operate withoutdisplay 3135 and/or video graphics controller 3130. Nonvolatile storage3140, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), CD drive, DVDdrive, or other nonvolatile storage couples to bus 3110 to provide PNAIHS 3100 with permanent storage of information. System memory 3115 andnonvolatile storage 3140 are both forms of memory stores. In oneembodiment, nonvolatile storage 3140 stores a hypervisor 3145(HYPERVISOR) that governs operation of PNA IHS 3100. In anotherembodiment, nonvolatile storage 3140 may store an operating system (notshown) that governs operation of PNA IHS 3100. In another embodiment,nonvolatile storage 3140 may store an operating system (not shown) thatgoverns operation of PNA IHS 3100, where the operating system includes ahypervisor (not shown).

I/O devices 3150, such as speakers, a keyboard and a pointing device,may couple to bus 3110 via I/O controller 3155 and I/O bus 3160. One ormore expansion busses 3165, i.e. channels 3165, such as USB, IEEE 1394bus, ATA, SATA, PCI, PCIE, DVI, HDMI and other busses, i.e. channels,couple to bus 3110 to facilitate the connection of peripherals anddevices to PNA IHS 3100. Network interface controllers (NICs), forexample, NIC 3170-1, NIC 3170-2, . . . , NIC 3170-G, wherein G is thenumber of NICs, may couple to bus 3110 to enable PNA IHS 3100 to connectby wire or wirelessly to a network and other information handlingsystems. NIC 3170-1, NIC 3170-2, . . . , NIC 3170-G may also be called anetwork communication adapter, network interface adapter, networkadapter, network interface or an adapter. NIC 3170-1, NIC 3170-2, . . ., NIC 3170-G may take many forms. For example, NIC 3170-1, NIC 3170-2, .. . , NIC 3170-G may take the form of an Ethernet (ETH) adapter, opensystems adapter (OSA), RDMA enabled network interface controller (RNIC)or other network communication adapter.

While FIG. 31 shows one IHS that employs processor 3105, the IHS maytake many forms. For example, PNA IHS 3100 may take the form of amainframe, server, central processor complex (CPC), desktop, portable,laptop, notebook, tablet or other form factor computer or dataprocessing system. PNA IHS 3100 may take other form factors such as agaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable telephonedevice, a communication device or other devices that include a processorand memory.

PNA IHS 3100 includes a PNA tool computer program product 3300 ondigital media 3175 such as a CD, DVD or other media. For simplicity, theterm PNA tool will be used below. PNA IHS 3100 may store PNA tool 3300in nonvolatile storage 3140 as PNA tool 3300′. PNA IHS 3100 may alsostore hypervisor 3145 (HYPERVISOR) and logical partition (LPAR) 3180-1,LPAR 3180-2, . . . , LPAR 3180-F, wherein F is the number of LPARs, innonvolatile storage 3140.

In another embodiment, PNA tool 3300′ may be part of the hypervisor 3145(not shown). In another embodiment, PNA tool 3300′ may be in LPAR3180-1, LPAR 3180-2, . . . , LPAR 3180-F. In another embodiment, PNA IHS3100 may store an operating system (not shown) that governs operation ofPNA IHS 3100, where the operating system includes a hypervisor (notshown) and where the operating system includes LPAR 3180-1, LPAR 3180-2,. . . , LPAR 3180-F as virtual machines (not shown). When PNA IHS 3100initializes, the IHS loads hypervisor 3145 into system memory 3115 forexecution as hypervisor 3145′. PNA IHS 3100 also loads PNA tool 3300′into system memory 3115 for execution as PNA tool 3300″. PNA IHS 3100may also load LPAR 3180-1, LPAR 3180-2, . . . , LPAR 3180-F into systemmemory 3115 for execution as LPAR 3180-1′, LPAR 3180-2′, . . . , LPAR3180-F′, respectively.

In another embodiment, when PNA IHS 3100 initializes, the IHS may loadan operating system (not shown) into system memory 3115 for execution.In another embodiment, when PNA IHS 3100 initializes, the IHS may loadan operating system (not shown) that includes a hypervisor (not shown)and includes LPAR 3180-1, LPAR 3180-2, . . . , LPAR 3180-F as virtualmachines (not shown) into system memory 3115 for execution.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of a privileged network access management(PNAM) IHS 3200 that may be used in the disclosed privileged networkaccess system. Like numbers indicate like elements with respect to FIG.5. PNAM IHS 3200 includes a processor 3205 that may include multiplecores. PNAM IHS 3200 processes, transfers, communicates, modifies,stores or otherwise handles information in digital form, analog form orother form. PNAM IHS 3200 includes a bus 3210 that couples processor3205 to memory 3215 via a memory controller 3220 and memory bus 3225.System memory 3215 may also be referred to as main memory. System memory3215 may be a static random access memory (SRAM) array or a dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM) array. Processor 3205 may also include localmemory such as L1, L2 and L3 caches. A video graphics controller 3230couples display 3235 to bus 3210. Nonvolatile storage 3240, such as ahard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), CD drive, DVD drive, or othernonvolatile storage couples to bus 3210 to provide PNAM IHS 3200 withpermanent storage of information. System memory 3215 and nonvolatilestorage 3240 are both forms of memory stores. Nonvolatile storage 3240stores an operating system 3245 (OPERATING SYS) that governs operationof PNAM IHS 3200. I/O devices 3250, such as speakers, a keyboard and apointing device, couple to bus 3210 via I/O controller 3255 and I/O bus3260.

One or more expansion busses 3265, such as USB, IEEE 1394 bus, ATA,SATA, PCI, PCIE, DVI, HDMI and other busses, couple to bus 3210 tofacilitate the connection of peripherals and devices to PNAM IHS 3200. Anetwork interface controller (NIC) 3270 couples to bus 3210 to enablePNAM IHS 3200 to connect by wire or wirelessly to a network and otherinformation handling systems. NIC 3270 may also be called a networkcommunication adapter, network interface adapter, network adapter,network interface or an adapter. NIC 3270 may take many forms. Forexample, NIC 3270 may take the form of an Ethernet (ETH) adapter, opensystems adapter (OSA), RDMA enabled network interface controller (RN IC)or other network communication adapter.

While FIG. 32 shows one IHS that employs processor 3205, the IHS maytake many forms. For example, PNAM IHS 3200 may take the form of adesktop, portable, laptop, notebook, tablet or other form factorcomputer or data processing system. PNAM IHS 3200 may take other formfactors such as a gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), aportable telephone device, a communication device or other devices thatinclude a processor and memory.

PNAM IHS 3200 includes a privileged network access management (PNAM)tool computer program product 3400 on digital media 3275 such as a CD,DVD or other media. For simplicity, the term PNAM tool will be usedbelow. PNAM IHS 3200 may store PNAM tool 3400 in nonvolatile storage3240 as PNAM tool 3400′. PNAM IHS 3200 may also store operating system3245 (OPERATING SYS) and PNAM database 3280 in nonvolatile storage 3240.When PNAM IHS 3200 initializes, the IHS loads operating system 3245 intosystem memory 3215 for execution as operating system 3245′. PNAM IHS3200 also loads PNAM database 3280 and PNAM tool 3400′ into systemmemory 3215 for execution as PNAM database 3280′ and PNAM tool 3400″,respectively.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of aprivileged network access (PNA) tool 3300 that may be used in thedisclosed privileged network access system. Process flow commences whenPNA tool 3300 in PNA IHS 3100 initializes, as per block 3305. If HCMtool 600 in HCM IHS 500 does not transmit HCM database 580, as perdecision block 3310, process flow continues at decision block 3310. IfHCM tool 600 in HCM IHS 500 does transmit HCM database 580, as perdecision block 3310, a hypervisor agent in PNA IHS 3100 may receive HCMdatabase 580, as per block 3315. In one embodiment, the hypervisor agentin the PNA IHS 3100 is included in hypervisor 3145.

The hypervisor agent may allow hypervisor 3145 to access HCM database580. Hypervisor 3145 may transmit HCM database 580 to PNA tool 3300, asper block 3320. PNA tool 3300 may extract the hardware configurationinformation of PNA IHS 3100 from the HCM database 580, as per block3325. In one embodiment, the hardware configuration information of PNAIHS 3100 from HCM database 580 may include, but is not limited to, on aper adapter basis, machine serial numbers (MSNs), physicalidentifications (PIDs), logical identifications (LIDs), adapter types, alogical partition (LPAR) access list, a physical network identification(PNet ID) of the first port of the adapter and a PNet ID of the secondport of the adapter. In one embodiment, the adapter type “0087” may bean OSA network adapter and the adapter type “0008” may be an RNICnetwork adapter.

In one embodiment, the PNA tool 3300 may share the extracted hardwareconfiguration information of PNA IHS 3100 with hypervisor 3145.Hypervisor 3145 may update the hardware configuration of PNA IHS 3100with the extracted hardware configuration information of PNA IHS 3100.In another embodiment, the PNA tool 3300 may share the extractedhardware configuration information of PNA IHS 3100 with LPARs 3180-1,3180-2, . . . , 3180-F, where F is the number of LPARs in PNA IHS 3100.LPARs 3180-1, 3180-2, . . . , 3180-F may update their respectivehardware configuration with the extracted hardware configurationinformation of PNA IHS 3100.

If PNAM tool 3400 in privileged network access management (PNAM) IHS3200 does not transmit PNAM database 3280, as per decision block 3330,process flow continues at decision block 3330. If PNAM tool 3400 in PNAMIHS 3200 does transmit PNAM database 3280, as per decision block 3330, ahypervisor agent in PNA IHS 3100 may receive PNAM database 3280, as perblock 3335.

The hypervisor agent may allow hypervisor 3145 to access PNAM database3280. Hypervisor 3145 may transmit PNAM database 3280 to PNA tool 3300,as per block 3340. PNA tool 3300 may extract the privileged networkaccess information of PNA IHS 3100 from the PNAM database 3280, as perblock 3345. In one embodiment, the privileged network access informationof PNA IHS 3100 from PNAM database 3280 may include, but is not limitedto, on a per PNet ID, per IHS basis, PNet IDs, MSNs and logicalpartition (LPAR) access lists.

In one embodiment, the PNA tool 3300 may share the extracted privilegednetwork access information of PNA IHS 3100 with hypervisor 3145.Hypervisor 3145 may update the privileged network access information ofPNA IHS 3100 with the extracted privileged network access information ofPNA IHS 3100. In another embodiment, the PNA tool 3300 may share theextracted privileged network access information of PNA IHS 3100 withLPARs 3180-1, 3180-2, . . . , 3180-F, where F is the number of LPARs inPNA IHS 3100. LPARs 3180-1, 3180-2, . . . , 3180-F may update theirrespective privileged network access information with the extractedprivileged network access information of PNA IHS 3100.

Utilizing the extracted hardware configuration information and theextracted privileged network access information, PNA tool 3300 maydetermine if a particular LPAR is allowed to access a particularprivileged network, as per decision block 3350. PNA tool 3300 maydetermine that a particular LPAR is allowed to access a particularprivileged network, as per decision block 3350. PNA tool 3300 may grantthe particular LPAR access to the particular privileged network, as perblock 3355.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 25A, 25B and 26, LPAR 2529-7 in PNA IHS2504 may attempt to access privileged NETWORK C 2524. PNA tool 3300 maydetermine from the extracted hardware configuration information from HCMdatabase 2600 that LPAR 2529-7 has access to network adapters 2522 and2523 that both have a PNet ID of “NETC”. PNA tool 330 may determine fromthe extracted privileged network access information from PNAM database2700 that PNet IDs “NETB” and “NETC” are the PNet IDs of privilegedNETWORK B 2519 and privileged NETWORK C 2524. PNA tool 300 may determinefrom the extracted privileged network access information from PNAMdatabase 2700 that LPAR 2529-4 and LPAR 2529-5 of PNA IHS 2504, i.e. MSN0CCC0AB2 are allowed to access privileged networks with a PNet ID of“NETB” and that LPAR 2529-7 of PNA IHS 2504 is allowed to accessprivileged networks with a PNet ID of “NETC”. PNA tool 3300 may grantLPAR 2529-7 of PNA IHS 2504 access to privileged NETWORK C 2524. Processflow terminates at end block 3365.

PNA tool 3300 may determine that a particular LPAR is not allowed toaccess a particular privileged network, as per decision block 3350. PNAtool 3300 may deny the particular LPAR access to the particularprivileged network, as per block 3360. For example, as shown in FIGS.25A, 25B and 26, LPAR 2529-7 in PNA IHS 2504 may attempt to accessprivileged NETWORK C 2524. PNA tool 3300 may determine from theextracted hardware configuration information from HCM database 2600 thatLPAR 2529-7 has access to network adapters 2522 and 2523 that both havea PNet ID of “NETC”. PNA tool 330 may determine from the extractedprivileged network access information from PNAM database 2700 that PNetIDs “NETB” and “NETC” are the PNet IDs of privileged NETWORK B 2519 andprivileged NETWORK C 2524.

PNA tool 300 may determine from the extracted privileged network accessinformation from PNAM database 2700 that LPAR 2529-4 and LPAR 2529-5 ofPNA IHS 2504, i.e. MSN 0CCC0AB2 are allowed to access privilegednetworks with a PNet ID of “NETB” and that LPAR 2529-7 of PNA IHS 2504is allowed to access privileged networks with a PNet ID of “NETC”. PNAtool 3300 may grant LPAR 2529-7 of PNA IHS 2504 access to privilegedNETWORK C 2524. Process flow terminates at end block 3365. Process flowterminates at end block 3365. Alternatively, process flow may continueat start block 3305.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart that shows a representative process flow of aprivileged network access management (PNAM) tool 3400 that may be usedin the disclosed privileged network access system. Process flowcommences when PNAM tool 3400 in PNAM IHS 3200 is initialized, as perblock 3405. PNAM tool 3400 may determine if PNAM database 3280 exists inPNAM IHS 3200, as per block 3410. If PNAM database 3280 exists in PNAMIHS 3200, PNAM tool 3400 opens PNAM database 3280 for modification, asper block 3415. However, if PNAM database 3280 does not exist in PNAMIHS 3200, PNAM tool 3400 generates a blank PNAM database 3280 in PNAMIHS 3200 and opens the PNAM database 3280 for modification, as per block3420.

PNAM database 3280 may store entries on a per privileged network, perPNA IHS basis, i.e., each row in PNAM database 3280 may containinformation that pertains to the PNet ID of a particular privilegedaccess network that couples to a particular PNA IHS, to which theparticular PNA IHS may have access. Process flow continues as PNAM tool3400 checks the PNA system for IHSs with access to privileged networks,as per block 3425. If PNAM tool 3400 determines that the PNA system doesnot include PNA IHSs with access to privileged access networks, as perblock 3425, process flow terminates at end block 3460.

If PNAM tool 3400 determines that the PNA system includes PNA IHSs withaccess to privileged access networks, PNAM tool 3400 may add the PNetIDs of the privileged access networks to which the PNA IHSs haveprivileged access, to PNAM database 3280, as per block 3430. Forexample, PNAM tool 3400 may add the PNet ID of “NETB” to PNAM database3280 for privileged NETWORK B 2519, to which PNA IHS 2504 has privilegedaccess. In one embodiment, a user may input PNet IDs of physicalnetworks to the PNAM tool 3400. PNAM tool 3400 may then store the inputPNet IDs of the physical networks in PNAM database 3280, thereby listingthe PNet IDs and respective physical networks as privileged accessnetworks.

PNAM tool 3400 may modify rows of PNAM database 3280 to include the PNAIHSs and/or logical partition (LPAR) designations of LPARs in theparticular PNA IHS that may access each particular network adapter, asper block 3435. For example, as shown in FIGS. 25A, 25B and 27, PNAMtool 3400 may modify the first row of PNAM database 2700, that has a“PNET ID” of “NET B” to include the “MSN” of PNA IHS 2504, “0CCC0AB2”and the “LPAR ACCESS LIST” to include LPARs “04” and “05”, therebylisting that LPAR 2529-4 and LPAR 2529-5 in PNA IHS 2504 may accessprivileged NETWORK B 2519. In one embodiment, a user may input LPARdesignations of LPARs in particular PNA IHSs that may access particularprivileged networks, to the PNAM tool 3400. The PNAM tool 3400 may thenmodify the rows of PNAM database 3280 to include the LPAR designationsof LPARs in particular PNA IHSs that may access the particularprivileged networks.

PNAM tool 3400 inspects the configuration of the PNA system that mayinclude the PNet ID, MSN and LPAR access list on a per privilegednetwork, per PNA IHS basis, as per block 3440. If PNAM tool 3400determines that the PNA system configuration does not match PNAMdatabase 3280, as per block 3440, PNAM tool 3400 updates the informationstored in PNAM database 3280 with the inspected configuration of the PNAsystem, as per block 3445. In one embodiment, a user may view PNAMdatabase 3280 with PNAM tool 3400 and determine if PNAM database 3280matches the PNA system configuration. If PNAM database 3280 does notmatch the PNA system configuration, the user may input the PNA systemconfiguration to the PNAM tool 3400. PNAM tool 3400 may store the PNAsystem configuration input by the user to PNAM database 3280.

If PNAM tool 3400 determines that the PNA system configuration doesmatch PNAM database 3280, as per block 3440, process flow continues atblock 3450. If PNAM tool 3400 determines that PNAM database 3280 hasbeen modified and/or generated, as per block 3450, PNAM tool 3400 maytransmit PNAM database 3280 to any or all PNA IHSs, as per block 3455.For example, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, PNAM tool 3400 may transmitPNAM database 2700 to PNA IHS 2504, 2507, 2509 and/or 2511 viaadministrative network 2502. In one embodiment, a user may input orselect a transmit command in PNAM tool 3400, causing PNAM tool 3400 totransmit PNAM database 3280 to any or all PNA IHSs. In anotherembodiment PNAM tool 3400 may transmit PNAM database 3280 to any or allPNA IHSs at a user specified time interval. If PNAM tool 3400 determinesthat the PNAM database 3280 has not been modified and/or generated, asper block 3450, process flow continues at block 3460. Process flowterminates at end block 3470. Alternatively, process flow may continueat start block 3405.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of thedisclosed methodology may be embodied as a system, method or computerprogram product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may takethe form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) oran embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the FIGS. 6, 12, 18,24, 33 and 34 flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, andcombinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart of FIGS. 6,12, 18, 24, 33 and 34 and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart of FIGS. 6,12, 18, 24, 33 and 34 described above.

The flowchart of FIGS. 6, 12, 18, 24, 33 and 34 illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products that perform analysisin accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8 may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in FIGS. 6, 12, 18, 24, 33 and 34. For example, two blocksshown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of FIGS. 6, 12, 18, 24, 33 and 34 and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a hypervisorof a first IHS, an HCM database that includes configuration informationincluding physical network identifier (PNet ID) entries and respectiveassociated physical adapter type entries and respective associatedlogical partition (LPAR) access information entries; transmitting, bythe hypervisor of the first IHS, the HCM database to a bridging tool;extracting, by the bridging tool, configuration information from the HCMdatabase, the configuration information including PNet ID entries andrespective associated physical adapter ID entries and respectiveassociated logical partition (LPAR) access information entries, thusproviding extracted physical bridging configuration information;extracting, by the bridging tool, configuration information from the HCMdatabase, the configuration information including PNet ID entries andrespective associated virtual adapter ID entries and respectiveassociated logical partition (LPAR) access information entries, thusproviding extracted virtual bridging configuration information; andbridging via a virtual switch, by the bridging tool, a physical adapterin the first IHS and a virtual adapter in the first IHS that exhibit asame PNet ID.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sorting on aper PNet ID basis, by the bridging tool, the extracted physical bridgingconfiguration information, thus providing extracted physical bridgingconfiguration information sorted by PNet ID.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: sorting on a per PNet ID basis, by the bridgingtool, the extracted virtual bridging configuration information, thusproviding extracted virtual bridging configuration information sorted byPNet ID.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: grouping on a perPNet ID basis, by the bridging tool, particular physical adapters fromthe extracted physical bridging configuration information sorted by PNetID with particular virtual adapters from the extracted virtual bridgingconfiguration information sorted by PNet ID.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: providing, a bridging tool to a second IHS;receiving, by a hypervisor of the second first IHS, the HCM databasethat includes configuration information including physical networkidentifier (PNet IDs) entries and respective associated physical adaptertype entries and respective associated logical partition (LPAR) accessinformation entries; transmitting, by the hypervisor of the second IHS,the HCM database to a bridging tool of the second IHS; extracting, bythe bridging tool of the second IHS, configuration information from theHCM database, the configuration information including PNet IDs entriesand respective associated physical adapter ID entries and respectiveassociated logical partition (LPAR) access information entries, thusproviding extracted physical bridging configuration information;extracting, by the bridging tool of the second IHS, configurationinformation from the HCM database, the configuration informationincluding PNet IDs entries and respective associated virtual adapter IDentries and respective associated logical partition (LPAR) accessinformation entries, thus providing extracted virtual bridgingconfiguration information; and bridging via a virtual switch in thesecond IHS, by the bridging tool of the second IHS, a physical adapterin the second IHS and a virtual adapter in the second IHS that exhibit asame PNet ID.